These scientists say the molecular structures they have created mimic the membranes found in all living things. They believe that the molecular structures might have been important in shielding self-replicating molecules from the outside world, thus allowing evolution into primitive life. Scientists believe the molecules needed to make a cell's membrane, and therefore needed for the origin of life, are all over space. This process happens all the time in the dense molecular clouds of space.
Membranes are like a house.
The scientists recreated the conditions found in space, a cold vacuum, and then used a common ultraviolet radiation to light up a simple ice compound. Instead, they appear to take place in deep space long before planet formation even occurs. This suggests that space is filled with these chemical compounds, which, if they land in a hospitable environment like our Earth, can readily bring on life. Past Weeks' News Archives - Archives of past weeks' Daily Selected News Stories. All Rights Reserved.