University of York.
UNIVERSITY of York scientists believe molecules brought to earth in meteorite strikes could potentially be converted into DNA.
They found that organic compounds, called amino nitriles, were able to use molecules present in interstellar ice to trigger the formation of the backbone molecule of DNA.
It throws doubt on the theory that amino acids were present on earth before DNA.
Dr Paul Clarke, from the University, said: “The molecules that form the building blocks of DNA had to come from somewhere; either they were present on Earth when it formed or they came from space, hitting earth in a meteor shower.”
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