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Life's Building Blocks Found on Asteroid Ryugu
16 Mar
Summary
- Samples from asteroid Ryugu contain all nucleobases for DNA and RNA.
- This discovery suggests these life-forming molecules are common in the Solar System.
- The findings support the theory that asteroids may have seeded early Earth with life's components.
Scientists have confirmed the presence of all necessary nucleobases for DNA and RNA in samples retrieved from the asteroid Ryugu. These black particles, collected by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa-2, were brought back to Earth in 2020 after a 300-million-kilometre mission. The discovery indicates that the fundamental components of life are not unique to Earth.
This finding reinforces the long-standing theory that asteroids may have played a critical role in the origin of life on our planet. By carrying essential elements and molecules, these celestial bodies could have seeded early Earth. The presence of these nucleobases on Ryugu, and previously on asteroid Bennu, suggests their widespread distribution across the Solar System.
Researchers also noted a unique correlation between the ratios of these building blocks and ammonia concentration. This observation may hint at a previously unknown pathway for nucleobase formation in the early Solar System. The findings significantly contribute to understanding prebiotic chemistry and the potential genesis of life.
