Emergence of RNA and Early Life; Experimental Modeling and Geochemical Constraints

Support from this grant continues to fund our research on two related problems. One involves attempts to model the abiotic formation of simple source compounds for functional biomolecules, their concentration from dilute state in the hydrosphere and in several cases surface induced reactions to form precursor monomers for bioactive end products. The second area is a search for the earliest traces of life on Earth and the early environments on Earth and Mars. For this purpose we have analyzed the isotopic compositions of carbon and nitrogen in graphitic residues that have been thought to represent the remains of microorganisms. The results of these studies have been presented in a number of publication, listed as references.