"Life precursor" molecules found in Aussie meteorite

[JonathanN]

Good morning all,

A couple of new items for you:

1) Scientists from Imperial College London have identified two "life precursor" molecules in the Murchison meteorite, meaning they are of extraterrestrial origin. The Murchison meteorite, of course, is a famous carbonaceous chondrite that fell in Victoria in 1969.

2) And the Phoenix Mars lander has had success with getting soil particle samples into its Optical Microscope device, to give scientists an up-close look at the martian soil.

Details at www.spaceinfo.com.au

Cheers,

Jonathan


Jonathan Nally
Editor
SpaceInfo.com.au
www.spaceinfo.com.au

[John Saunders]

What is meant exactly by "life precursor" molecules? Amino Acid molecules?

[JonathanN]

"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."

Cheers,

Jonathan


Jonathan Nally
Editor
SpaceInfo.com.au
www.spaceinfo.com.au (http://www.spaceinfo.com.au)

[xelasnave]

I see this as proof that there exists the possibility of other life..maybe intelligent life..maybe life determined to wipe us out now that they have heard our earliest radio transmissions...it is therefore clear to me that a program to guard the solar system with battle stars must be stared immediately.
alex:):):)