[meteorite-list] More evidence of building blocks of DNA inmeteorites

From: JoshuaTreeMuseum <joshuatreemuseum_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:08:37 -0400
Message-ID: <2711C89D62F248FCB33CABA8D91F1635_at_ET>

G'day Sterling

Yes, it's well established that amino acids, nucleobases and other such
molecules are pretty much everywhere across the Universe. They're common,
fairly simple compounds. When you say they're ready to be assembled and you
can build your own ladder, are you talking about Brahman, Yahweh, Allah,
what or whom is causing this stuff to organize, self-replicate and strangest
of all, cross the line from non-living to living? Is it the Almighty God of
Chance? What is this Ghost in the Machine?

But that's a whole 'nother can of segmented annelids!

My objection is to the propagandistic way they're releasing this "new"
information to generate lurid headlines and goofy articles. "Alien Life
Form Found on Earth!" "New Evidence of Fossils Found in Mars Meteorites!"
"NASA discovers DNA in meteorites!" "NASA Scientists Trace Heat Wave To
Massive Star At Center Of Solar System!"

OK, that last one is from the Onion:


http://www.theonion.com/articles/scientists-trace-heat-wave-to-massive-star-at-cent,21088/


Phil Whitmer
Joshua Tree Earth & Space Museum



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But the nucleobases found in the meteorite
are of BOTH optical isomers -- right- and left-
handed molecules -- or so the video says. if
they were from terrestrial contamination,
they would be only the Earthly orientation.

The point is that not only amino acids are being
produced in space a-biotically but so are common
nucleobases, ready to be assembled.

It's not like getting DNA from space --- it's like
getting a box of pre-fitted ladder rungs so you
can build your own ladder.


Sterling K. Webb
Received on Wed 10 Aug 2011 12:08:37 PM PDT