Comets and the Origins of Ribose

Scientists at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in France are beginning to postulate how life began on Earth through experiments that mimic the early conditions that were found within our primordial solar system. In one such experiment, they created an artificial comet which was composed of water, methanol and ammonia at -328 degrees F in a vacuum (These conditions resemble the environment of these compounds in space.) The artificial comet was then blasted with UV radiation, brought to room temperature (conditions as the comet neared the sun) and a significant amount of ribose sugar was found. This experiment further shows that comets are most likely the source of the organic molecules that are needed for life. Aside from the sugar ribose, formaldehyde was also found and forms when methanol and water are combined. These findings support theories that the building blocks for life were formed and brought here from space.

This experiment sheds light on the origins of RNA because simple ribose is a major component of an RNA molecule. The comet was analyzed with "multidimensional chromatography and mass spectrometry" in order to determine the actual make up of the comet. A naturally occurring comet has never been analyzed; however, the conditions under which a comet endures in space was carefully recreated. Early life on Earth is thought to have been defined by the presence of RNA. As more complex molecules like DNA, amino acids, and proteins became available on earth, life found a way to utilize them. Like comets, meteorites have been found to contain amino acids and nitrogenous bases which are the building blocks of proteins and nucleic acids but not the building blocks of RNA. Some scientists are know asking whether comets have also delivered the building blocks for life on other planets throughout the universe. New details and data from this experiment is still being analyzed and the scientists working on the project hope to learn more about the origins of life from the gathered data.