u/Dependent_Plate6110

Thinking about Obelisk a type of RNA structures that was discovered in 2024. It seems to be a new type of RNA that forms structures.

First question I guess is if they even exists? Has it been independently verified enough to be sure they exists. Or is it a measurement/sampling error?

And if they exists, that are they? My speculation is a kind of viruses made up only of RNA, but is that possible? A survivor from an earlier RNA world? But can also be something the animal body uses for unknown functionality.

Because it exists in bodies, it has probably connections to illnesses. Any candidates for illnesses that lacks cause and might be explained by this.