Significant Achievements in Space Bioscience 1958-1964 — John Shaqi
Significant Achievements in Space Bioscience 1958-1964United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Science
Significant Achievements in Space Bioscience 1958-1964
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Biology; Space flight
It is likely that in the synthesis of organic moieties, simple and
specific molecules were first produced when the planets had a reducing
atmosphere. Further complexity or degradation of the organic compounds
produced varied, depending on the geochemical changes of the planet’s
surface, the atmospheric constituents, the degree of interaction between
surface and atmosphere, and the rate of the organic synthesis. Oparin
([ref.15]) presented the most detailed mechanisms for the spontaneous
generation of the first living organism arising in a sea of organic
compounds synthesized in a reducing atmosphere on Earth.
It is generally accepted that, under favorable conditions, life can
arise by spontaneous generation. A primary requirement for this
initiation is that there be abundant organic compounds concentrated in
one or more specific zones. These simple organic molecules would undergo
modification to develop a greater structural complexity and specificity,
finally giving rise to a "living" organism. Therefore, because of the
ease with which organic compounds can be synthesized under reducing
conditions, planetary surfaces may contain an abundant source of similar
organic matter. However, difficulties arise in postulating steps for
further organization or modification of the above synthesized organic
matter into a living state. Most of the original organic matter produced
in the primary reducing atmospheres of the various planets may have been
quite similar. However, major variations between planets, in chemical
evolution beyond the prebiotic stage, must have been the rule rather
than the exception.
The primary interest in this area of research has been the realization
of the possible existence of organic molecules on planetary surfaces
and, particularly, Mars. Pertinent synthesis may be either biological or
abiological. Research conducted in the simulation of cosmochemical
synthesis has used most of the available solar spectrum. Simulation
experiments devised to study the effects of these energies on the
assumed early atmosphere of the Earth have yielded products that play a
dominant role in molecular and biochemical organization of the cell.
Calvin ([ref.16]) irradiated water and carbon dioxide in a cyclotron,
obtaining formaldehyde and formic acid. Miller ([ref.17]) found that
when methane, ammonia, water, and hydrogen were subjected to a
high-frequency electrical discharge, several amino acids were produced
along with a variety of other organic compounds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account