What Scientists Discovered In Determining The Origin Of Life On Earth, And Possibly On Mars?

The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FAME) reported today that ribonucleic acid (RNA), an analogue of DNA that was most likely the initial genetic material for life, develops spontaneously on basalt lava glass.

Glass like this were plentiful on Earth 4.35 billion years ago. Similar basalts from this era can still be found on Mars.

“In recent years, communities exploring the beginnings of life have split,” said Steven Benner, a co-author of the study, which was published online in the journal Astrobiology.

Benner noted, “One community revisits classic topics with complicated chemical schemes that need challenging chemistry performed by competent chemists.” “Their exquisite craftsmanship has been featured in prestigious periodicals such as Nature and Science.”

However, because of chemistry’s intricacy, it can’t possibly explain how life began on Earth.

What Does The Foundation Say?

The Foundation study, on the other hand, takes a more straightforward method. The work, led by Elisa Biondi, demonstrates that long RNA molecules of 100-200 nucleotides develop when nucleoside triphosphates simply percolate through basaltic glass.

“Basaltic glass was widespread on Earth at the time,” said Earth scientist Stephen Mojzsis, who also took part in the study. “Frequent impacts on the early planet, along with copious volcanism, created molten basaltic lava, the source of the basalt glass, for several hundred million years after the Moon formed.

Water evaporated as a result of the impacts, resulting in dry ground and aquifers where RNA may have grown.”

The same effects delivered nickel, which the researchers discovered produces nucleoside triphosphates from nucleosides and activated phosphate, both of which are contained in lava glass. Borate (as in borax) regulates the synthesis of those triphosphates, which is also found in basalt.

With their metal iron-nickel cores, the identical impactors that produced the glass also decreased the atmosphere transiently.

In such environments, RNA bases, whose sequences store genetic information, are created. Nucleosides are generated by a simple interaction between ribose phosphate and RNA bases, according to the researchers.

“The simplicity of this model is what makes it so appealing. High school students can put it to the test in chemistry class “Jan Paek, who was not engaged in this research but is working on a device to identify extraterrestrial genetic polymers on Mars, said “Combine the materials, wait a few days, and look for RNA.”

How Can This Rock Help In Solving The RNA Puzzle?

In a path that leads from simple organic molecules to the first RNA, the same rocks solve the other puzzles in RNA production. “Borate, for example, controls the production of ribose, which is the ‘R’ in RNA,” Benner explained. This process begins with basic carbohydrates that “could not” have evolved in the atmosphere above prehistoric Earth.

These were stabilised by volcanic sulphur dioxide, which was later rained to the surface, forming organic mineral reservoirs.

Significance Of This Research

As a result, this research completes a pathway that leads to the production of RNA from tiny organic compounds that were very certainly present on the early Earth.

A single geological model progresses from one to two carbon atoms to RNA molecules long enough to permit Darwinian evolution.

“Important questions remain,” Benner cautions. “We still don’t know how all of the RNA building pieces ended up with the same overall form, which is known as homochirality.” In the material formed on basaltic glass, the connections between the nucleotides can also be varied. The significance of this is unknown.

Why Is Mars Important In This Research?

The planet Mars is crucial to this revelation since the same minerals, glasses, and impacts were found on ancient Mars.

Continental drift and plate tectonics, which buried most Earth rocks older than 4 billion years, have not occurred on Mars. As a result, rocks from the relevant period remain on Mars’ surface. Recent Mars missions have discovered all of the necessary rocks, including borate.

“If life arose on Earth via this straightforward method, then life on Mars is likewise likely to have emerged,” Benner added. “This emphasises the importance of finding life on Mars as soon as possible.”


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