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The seeding of life by cometsThe chemical and morphological structures of comets and interstellar dust are reviewed to demonstrate the feasibility of comets providing the necessary prebiotic molecules for the formation of life on the early earth. The chemical evolution of interstellar dust is shown to be the source of organics in comets, and the molecules observed in the grains are listed as are the products resulting from grain photolysis. It is emphasized that comets could only transfer prebiotic molecules to the earth if they are fluffy aggregates that break up into fine fragments. The contributions to the early earth are considered in terms of the competition between the evolution of the living organisms and the destructive effects of impacts. It is considered that life began as the bombardment during the first 5 x 10 exp 8 years began to tail off.
Document ID
19920038331
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Greenberg, J. M.
(Leiden Univ. Netherlands)
Mendoza-Gomez, Celia X.
(Leiden, State University Netherlands)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Space Research
Volume: 12
Issue: 4 19
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
92A20955
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-018-148
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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