Template-free nonenzymatic polymerization of 3',5' cyclic nucleotides is an emerging topic of the origin of life research. In the last ten years, a number of papers have been published addressing various aspects of this process. These works evoked a vivid discussion among scientists working in the field of prebiotic chemistry. The aim of the current review is to answer the most frequently raised questions related to the detection and characterization of oligomeric products as well as to the geological context of this chemistry.

Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Kamenice 5 62500 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology CNR Piazzale A Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy

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