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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/
080613092514.htm
Life's Raw Materials May Have Come From The Stars, Scientists Confirm
Stardust from Murchison-meteorite. New finding suggests that parts of the raw
materials to make the first molecules of DNA and RNA may have come from the
stars. (Credit: Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Energy)
ScienceDaily (June 13, 2008) Scientists have confirmed for the first time
that an important component of early genetic material which has been found in
meteorite fragments is extraterrestrial in origin, in a paper published on 15
June 2008.
The finding suggests that parts of the raw materials to make the first
molecules of DNA and RNA may have come from the stars.
The scientists, from Europe and the USA, say that their research provides
evidence that life's raw materials came from sources beyond the Earth.
The materials they have found include the molecules uracil and xanthine, which
are precursors to the molecules that make up DNA and RNA, and are known as
nucleobases.
The team discovered the molecules in rock fragments of the Murchison meteorite,
which crashed in Australia in 1969.
They tested the meteorite material to determine whether the molecules came from
the solar system or were a result of contamination when the meteorite landed on
Earth.
The analysis shows that the nucleobases contain a heavy form of carbon which
could only have been formed in space. Materials formed on Earth consist of a
lighter variety of carbon.
Lead author Dr Zita Martins, of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering
at Imperial College London, says that the research may provide another piece of
evidence explaining the evolution of early life. She says:
"We believe early life may have adopted nucleobases from meteoritic fragments
for use in genetic coding which enabled them to pass on their successful
features to subsequent generations."
Between 3.8 to 4.5 billion years ago large numbers of rocks similar to the
Murchison meteorite rained down on Earth at the time when primitive life was
forming. The heavy bombardment would have dropped large amounts of meteorite
material to the surface on planets like Earth and Mars.
Co-author Professor Mark Sephton, also of Imperial's Department of Earth
Science and Engineering, believes this research is an important step in
understanding how early life might have evolved. He added:
"Because meteorites represent left over materials from the formation of the
solar system, the key components for life -- including nucleobases -- could be
widespread in the cosmos. As more and more of life's raw materials are
discovered in objects from space, the possibility of life springing forth
wherever the right chemistry is present becomes more likely."
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily
staff) from materials provided by Imperial College London, via AlphaGalileo.
Journal Reference:
MARTINS et al. Extraterrestrial nucleobases in the Murchison meteorite.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2008; 270 (1-2): 130 DOI:
10.1016/j.epsl.2008.03.026
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the
following formats:
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Imperial College London (2008, June 13). Life's Raw Materials May Have Come
From The Stars, Scientists Confirm. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 9, 2011,
from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/06/080613092514.htm
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of
ScienceDaily or its staff.
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