@aperson,
Oh, I've read about the clay theory, too, but that's really all I remember....
On a somewhat related note - I just came across this article here:
A Simpler Origin for Life
It's about the theory that simple RNA molecules, kind of the precursor or 'simpler' version of DNA, could have appeared and started to catalyse the synthesis of themselves. Evolution then would have started with the spontaneous appearance of the first RNA molecule. However, given the relative complexity of even RNA molecules, this theory seems not without problem either.
The article then goes on and explains some alternative theories that would start at an even more basic origin. Conclusion: if the the first molecules capable of replicating themselves were far simpler than an RNA molecule, maybe originally each without the capacity of passing on information stored in them, then it would be far more likely that something similar might have happened elsewhere in the universe.