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Organic compounds in meteorites.

J G Lawless1

  • 1Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, California, USA.

Life Sciences and Space Research
|January 1, 1980
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Organic compounds found in meteorites suggest abiotic synthesis, supporting chemical evolution theories. These findings offer natural evidence for the molecular precursors of early life on Earth.

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Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Organic Geochemistry
  • Planetary Science

Background:

  • Carbonaceous chondrites contain indigenous organic compounds.
  • Previous research identified amino acids, carboxylic acids, N-heterocycles, and hydrocarbons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for abiotic synthesis of organic compounds in meteorites.
  • To discuss the implications for chemical evolution and the origin of life.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites (Murchison and Murray).
  • Quantification of amino acids, monocarboxylic acids, and hydrocarbons.
  • Examination of isomer distributions (D/L amino acids, straight/branched chain acids).

Main Results:

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  • Discovery of at least 40 amino acids with near-equal D/L isomer abundance.
  • Amino acid concentrations decrease with increasing carbon number; glycine is most abundant.
  • Monocarboxylic acids and hydrocarbons are highly abundant, with diverse isomer distributions.

Conclusions:

  • Results strongly support the theory of chemical evolution.
  • Meteoritic organic compounds provide natural evidence for protobiological molecules.
  • These findings shed light on the potential origins of life on Earth.