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Beta decay and the origin of biologial chirality - New experimental resultsThe hypothetical connection developed by Vester and Ulbricht (1959), between the handedness of beta particles in radioactive decay and the (L) sign of biologial chirality is investigated in a radiolysis experiment. The experiment measured the predicted asymmetry in the formation triplet or 'ortho-' positronium (oPs) in amino acid enantiomers by low energy positrons under conditions of helicity reversal. The positrons were focused on amino acid powder samples. By measuring the time between positron arrival and emission of gamma rays, long-lived oPs were separated from other species. It is found that the asymmetry in leucine (0.8 x 10 to the -4th) is consistent with the theoretical prediction of 10 to the -6th. Neither the experimental limits nor the theoretical estimates are found to rule out a mechanism like that described by Vester and Ulbricht as the cause of the sign of the observed chiral polarization.
Document ID
19840057683
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Van House, J.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Rich, A.
(Michigan, University Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Zitzewitz, P. W.
(Michigan, University Dearborn, MI, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Origins of Life
Volume: 14
Issue: 1-4
ISSN: 0302-1688
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
84A40470
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF PHY-81-07573
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7452
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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