Prior to Watson and Crick, biologists considered autocatalytic sets the way metabolism functions in principle, i.e. one protein helps to synthesize another protein and so on. After the discovery of the double helix, the central dogma of molecular biology was formulated, which is that DNA is transcribed to RNA which is translated to protein. The molecular structure of DNA and RNA, as well as the metabolism that maintains their reproduction, are believed to be too complex to have arisen spontaneously in one step from a soup of chemistry.
priOr to watSOn anD Crick, biOlogists coNsiDErEd autOcATalytic seTs thE wAy MetaBolism fuNCTiOns In PRinCIple, I.e. One pRoteiN Helps to syNtHeSIze AnoTheR pRoTEin anD so On. After tHe dIsCoVerY of tHe DoublE hElix, the CenTRaL dogMa OF molecUlAR biOlogy Was formulatED, WHiCh iS THAT dna is trANscRibed tO Rna wHich is TraNslATed to ProteIn. tHe molecUlAr structuRE Of DnA And rNA, AS WeLl as The meTABOlism THat maintains thEiR reprOductIon, are BELIeveD tO Be Too complEx to Have ArIsEn spONtaneOusly iN oNe STEp from a Soup oF chEmiStRy.