| Title: | Comets and the formation of biochemical compounds on the primitive Earth--a review |
| Author(s): | Oro J; Mills T; Lazcano A; |
| Address: | "Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences, University of Houston, TX 77204-5934" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0169-6149 (Print) 0169-6149 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Thirty years ago it was suggested that comets impacting on the primitive Earth may have represented a significant source of terrestrial volatiles, including some important precursors for prebiotic synthesis (Oro, 1961, Nature 190: 389). This possibility is strongly supported not only by models of the collisional history of the early Earth, but also by astronomical evidence that suggests that frequent collisions of comet-like bodies from the circumstellar disk around the star beta Pictoris are taking place. Although a significant fraction of the complex organic compounds that appear to be present in cometary nuclei were probably destroyed during impact, it is argued that cometary collisions with the primitive Earth represented an important source of both free-energy and volatiles, and may have created transient, gaseous environments in which prebiotic synthesis may have taken place" |
| Keywords: | "Atmosphere Chemistry, Organic Earth, Planet *Extraterrestrial Environment Organic Chemistry Phenomena *Solar System NASA Discipline Exobiology NASA Discipline Number 52-20 NASA Program Exobiology Non-NASA Center;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineOro, J Mills, T Lazcano, A eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review Netherlands 1992/01/01 Orig Life Evol Biosph. 1992; 21(5-6):267-77. doi: 10.1007/BF01808302" |
