The idea that, when life originated on earth, a macromolecule other than dna served the role of information storage and that this same macromolecule carried out catalysis is called the hypothesis.

The RNA world hypothesis states that the earlier life-forms had relied only on RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) for the purpose of catalyzing the chemical reactions, and storing the genetic information. This hypothesis was proposed by Leslie Orgel, Carl Woese, and Francis Crick.

This hypothesis states that long before the living forms evolved to use DNA as the genetic storage material, the RNA molecules served the purpose of both storing the genetic information and carrying out catalysis, but because of its instability, DNA evolved.

Hence, the answer is RNA world hypothesis.