Life on
Earth may have its origins in outer space, according to Nasa research.
Scientists
have analysed meteorites that formed billions of years ago before falling to
Earth.
The
carbon-rich fragments were found to contain chemicals similar to one of the key
components of DNA, the building blocks of life.
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| Life from outer space? Scientists studying meteorites like this one say that they could have brought the building blocks of life to Earth |
Tests show
that the presence of these chemicals cannot be explained away by Earthly
contamination, suggesting DNA’s origins may lie in outer space.
The find
comes from U.S. scientists, predominantly Nasa researchers, who analysed the
chemical make-up of 12 meteorites.
Writing in
the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers
said their find has ‘far-reaching implications’.
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The study’s
lead author, Dr Michael Callahan, of the Nasa Goddard Space Flight Centre in
Maryland, said: ‘With meteorites and comets impacting the early Earth, it appears that they did
deliver some very important ingredients.’
Previous
studies found meteorites harbour the other two of the three basic ingredients
of life.
These are
amino acids, the ‘beads’ that form proteins when strung together, and chemicals
needed to allow cells to create a membrane barrier. The chemicals in DNA are
the third.
 |
| Meteor shower: Life on this planet could have its origins in a cosmic event |
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