Investigation on a new necleobase source on the early Earth

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H03752
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Geochemistry/Cosmochemistry
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Furukawa Yoshihiro 東北大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (00544107)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 敬道 国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構, その他部局等, その他研究員 (20260028) ; 関根 利守 広島大学, 理学研究科, 特任教授 (70343829)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Sekine Toshimori 広島大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (70343829)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 核酸塩基 / 隕石 / アミノ酸 / 衝突

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the formation of biomolecules, particularly nucleases, by impacts of meteorites/asteroids on prebiotic Earth. Nucleobases are essential molecules for life, composing DAN and RNA, but those origins were significantly limited. This study found that several nucleobases as well as several amino acids form in the reaction induced by impacts of meteorites/asteroids using CO2 as the carbon source on the early Earth and using ammonia in ocean as a nitrogen source. This study also fond that the yields of nucleobases and amino acids are depends on the concentration of ammonia but found that even with ammonia-free ocean an amino acid, glycine, form using N2 as the nitrogen source.

Free Research Field

地球化学