NASA: Nucleic acids found in meteorites

NeverHere · Aug 10, 2011

Excerpt;

NASA Researchers: DNA Building Blocks Can Be Made in Space
08.08.11

NASA-funded researchers have evidence that some building blocks of DNA, the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life, found in meteorites were likely created in space. The research gives support to the theory that a "kit" of ready-made parts created in space and delivered to Earth by meteorite and comet impacts assisted the origin of life.

"People have been discovering components of DNA in meteorites since the 1960's, but researchers were unsure whether they were really created in space or if instead they came from contamination by terrestrial life," said Dr. Michael Callahan of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. "For the first time, we have three lines of evidence that together give us confidence these DNA building blocks actually were created in space." Callahan is lead author of a paper on the discovery appearing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

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In summary;
The meteorites contain a mix of nucleic acids, and included the "usual suspects" of adenine & guanine, other similar compounds, and more exotic bases not used in terrestrial life. These included 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6,8-diaminopurine. They ruled out contamination, and conclude that some complex organic molecules, including DNA, could have been seeded on earth from space.

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I believe this is has possible, and exciting, implications for mankind discovering where, and how, life on this planet started.

cage · Aug 10, 2011

very interesting indeed

NASA: Nucleic acids found in meteorites

NeverHere MDL Novice

cage MDL Novice