Life from Outer Space: Overview on the Presence of DNA, RNA Associated Bio-Molecules – Amino Acids, Nucleobases, Sugars and Water Molecules in Meteorites and Carbonaceous Chondrites

Author: Shivakumar R., Balaji B., Dharani E. and Pratik Prasad Singh

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Abstract

Life requires various compounds, such as sugars, amino acids, nucleobases, vital elements, and water, to thrive on Earth's seemingly inert rock surface. These compounds not only provide the necessary energy but also store the information essential for life and exhibit functions crucial for survival. Compelling evidence indicates the existence of these molecules and their precursors in interstellar objects. Analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, ion exchange chromatography, paper chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry have unveiled the presence of life-supporting molecules in meteorites and chondrite samples. Moreover, there are theories suggesting that Earth's water might be the result of impacts from cold, ice-bearing comets and asteroids. The analysis results, combined with these theories, strongly suggest that life-supporting compounds could have been transported to Earth, transforming this once lifeless rock into a thriving habitat. This article delves into the possibility that the origin of life on Earth may have been facilitated by the transportation of vital compounds from interstellar space through various celestial bodies.

Keywords

Astrobiology, Carbonaceous chondrites, Amino acids, Sugars, Outer space

Conclusion

This review provides a thorough overview of the presence of biomolecules related to DNA and RNA in meteorites and carbonaceous chondrites, including amino acids, nucleobases, sugars, and water molecules. The investigation explores the potential for the existence of prebiotic components of life in extraterrestrial sources, shedding light on the fascinating field of astrobiology. Numerous organic compounds necessary for life as we know it have been found in various meteorites and carbonaceous chondrites after careful analysis and examination. These samples contain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins and suggest the possibility of the formation of complex biomolecules. Nucleobases, the crucial components of DNA and RNA, have also been identified, further supporting the idea that the necessary ingredients for life may exist beyond our planet. Moreover, these extraterrestrial materials have been found to contain sugars, which are essential for many biochemical processes. This discovery raises the prospect of chemical reactions as well as potential sources of energy required for the emergence of life. The discovery of water molecules in carbonaceous chondrites and meteorites also adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the favourable conditions for the emergence of life-supporting environments. The results presented in this paper highlight the possibility for extraterrestrial sources to have contributed to the origin of life on Earth, even though research into the precise mechanisms and origins of these biomolecules in meteorites and carbonaceous chondrites is still ongoing. The panspermia hypothesis, which postulates the transfer of life's fundamental components from one planet to another, is complicated by the discovery of these biomolecules in such celestial bodies. These discoveries have implications that go beyond Earth, deepening our knowledge of the cosmos and opening up new avenues for life. Further research will undoubtedly shed more light on the existence and origin of these biomolecules in extraterrestrial sources, including in-depth analysis of additional meteorite samples, lab simulations, and space missions.

References

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How to cite this article

Shivakumar R., Balaji B., Dharani E. and Pratik Prasad Singh (2023). Life from Outer Space: Overview on the Presence of DNA, RNA Associated Bio-Molecules – Amino Acids, Nucleobases, Sugars and Water Molecules in Meteorites and Carbonaceous Chondrites. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 738-742.