Ancient Mars had key life-supporting component - Indian Express

PTI : Washington, Sun Jun 16 2013, 16:29 hrs One of the most difficult steps in making RNA non-biologically is the formation of the RNA sugar component, ribose. (Reuters) Martian clay may have harboured boron - a key component for one of the life's molecular building blocks - at a time when life was just getting its start on Earth, scientists say. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa NASA Astrobiology Institute (UHNAI) have discovered high concentrations of boron in a Martian meteorite. When present in its oxidised form (borate), boron may have played a key role in the formation of RNA, one of the building blocks for life. Researchers found the Martian meteorite used in this study in Antarctica during its 2009-2010 field season. The minerals it contains, as well as its chemical composition, clearly show that it is of Martian origin. Using the ion microprobe in the WM Keck Cosmochemistry Laboratory at UH, the team was able to analyse veins of Martian clay in the meteorite. After ruling out contamination from Earth, they determined boron abundances in these clays are over ten times higher than in any previously measured meteorite. "Borates may have been important for the origin of life on Earth because they can stabilise ribose, a crucial component of RNA. In early life RNA is thought to have been the informational precursor to DNA," said James Stephenson, a UHNAI postdoctoral fellow. RNA may have been the first molecule to store information and pass it on to the next generation, a mechanism crucial for evolution. Although life has now evolved a sophisticated mechanism to synthesise RNA, the first RNA molecules must have been made without such help. One of the most difficult steps in making RNA non-biologically is the formation of the RNA sugar component, ribose. Previous laboratory tests have shown that without borate the chemicals available on the early Earth fail to build ribose. However, in the presence of borate, ribose is spontaneously produced and stabilised. ... contd. ALSO READ Launchpad: Amazon Kindle Fire HD Star Wars-style planets with two suns may host life Google launches Internet-beaming balloons Mystery behind X-Ray light from black holes solved Please read our terms of use before posting comments TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s). via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEWNbXeyiBmFX9W6W9SGfGgEvNbMw&url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ancient-mars-had-key-lifesupporting-component/1129776/

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