Posted on 06/13/2008 3:26:13 PM PDT by blam
Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars
Scientists have confirmed for the first time that an important component of early genetic material which has been found in meteorite fragments is extraterrestrial in origin, in a paper published on 15 June 2008.
The finding suggests that parts of the raw materials to make the first molecules of DNA and RNA may have come from the stars.
The scientists, from Europe and the USA, say that their research, published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, provides evidence that life's raw materials came from sources beyond the Earth.
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.
The team discovered the molecules in rock fragments of the Murchison meteorite, which crashed in Australia in 1969.
They tested the meteorite material to determine whether the molecules came from the solar system or were a result of contamination when the meteorite landed on Earth.
The analysis shows that the nucleobases contain a heavy form of carbon which could only have been formed in space. Materials formed on Earth consist of a lighter variety of carbon.
Lead author Dr Zita Martins, of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, says that the research may provide another piece of evidence explaining the evolution of early life. She says:
"We believe early life may have adopted nucleobases from meteoritic fragments for use in genetic coding which enabled them to pass on their successful features to subsequent generations."
Between 3.8 to 4.5 billion years ago large numbers of rocks similar to the Murchison meteorite rained down on Earth at the time when primitive life was forming. The heavy bombardment would have dropped large amounts of meteorite material to the surface on planets like Earth and Mars.
Co-author Professor Mark Sephton, also of Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, believes this research is an important step in understanding how early life might have evolved. He added:
"Because meteorites represent left over materials from the formation of the solar system, the key components for life -- including nucleobases -- could be widespread in the cosmos. As more and more of life's raw materials are discovered in objects from space, the possibility of life springing forth wherever the right chemistry is present becomes more likely."
Paper: “Extraterrestrial nucleobases in the Murchison meteorite”, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Sunday 15 June 2008 (Print publication) A full copy of the research can be downloaded at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2008.03.026
Source: Imperial College London
Confirm? Evidence? Sounds like they’re trying to “prove” something.
I forgot “We believe”.
How is it that anybody can confirm that something may have happened? Is this what passes for science anymore? No wonder. Call us post-scientific.
Oh boy.
That’s great.
I love reading about these scientifically validated hypothetically conjectured guesses. They are so...scientific.
A Scientific Fad.
Scientists?
How can we call them scientists if they can confirm something that is at odds with all physical evidence?
propagandists is what they are.
Well, there goes the Great Spaghetti Monster theory.
1 in 10^39.99999 as opposed to 1 in 10^40?
Assuming the meteorite wasn't contaminated by landing on earth (in which every living organism makes uracil), assuming the molecules on a meteorite could survive the burning and crash landing, assuming that the meteorites were a significant source of biomolecular precursors that somehow didn't or couldn't form in significant amounts on Earth, I might be inclined to listen to them.
That is a lot of assumptions. A physicist once asked someone who made a hypothesis that fit (a bit too close) to his observations “How many parameters?” “Four” the guy admitted “Give me four parameters and I can fit an elephant! Five and I can make him wiggle his trunk.”
The formation of biological molecules spontaneously is not a problem, and we needn't invoke the ‘great cosmic life contamination’. Getting them to metabolize energy in order to replicate their structures is something else entirely.
Another case of pagan scientists defying the Creator of the universe.......I have read the last chapter......science boys lose!
It does NOT say that life came from outside of the Earth, and it does NOT say that genetic material came from outside of the Earth. It says that material from outside of the Earth MAY have been useful in the process that led to the appearance of life on Earth.
However, I expect the headlines to say “Science confirms extraterrestrial origin of life”.
...Or maybe it came from God.
But what do I know? I’m an ignorant, gun-toting bitter Bible-thumping white Christian male.
Science is diametrically opposed to Christianity? You cannot be a scientist and a Christian?
Scientist cannot confirm anything and qualify it for a “may” possibility. If it is confirmed, it means that it is is confirmed. There is no “may”. I personally will take God at his word and believe no matter what scientists confirm. They once confirmed the earth was flat.
Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
My belief ... and a token ... gets me a ride to WalMart on the county transit.
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