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| Paper: |
Survival of Purines and Pyrimidines Adsorbed on a Solid Surface in a High Radiation Field |
| Volume: |
420, Bioastronomy 2007: Molecules, Microbes and Extraterrestrial Life |
| Page: |
229 |
| Authors: |
Guzman-Marmolejo, A.; Ramos-Bernal, S.; Negrón-Mendoza, A. |
| Abstract: |
According to astronomical data, organic molecules are abundant in interstellar space. These molecules have arisen from non-equilibrium processes driven by the energy of photons and cosmic rays. The presence of dirty ices show that a rich low temperature solid phase chemistry takes place in such environments. These chemical evolution reactions have been assumed to proceed mainly within solid surfaces of interstellar dust particles, as well as on macrobodies. Among solid surfaces for chemical processes, alumino-silicates are widely distributed in terrestrial and extraterrestrial bodies, such as meteorites, and the Martian soil, which showed the presence of carbonates and clays. Therefore, alumino-silicates are considered a likely inorganic material to promote organic reactions that might have played a role in the survival of organic molecules adsorbed on their surfaces. It is also known that they have a high surface area and a high affinity for organic compounds. Purines and pyrimidines are important organic compounds due to their role in biological processes. Their synthesis and stability are of paramount importance in chemical evolution. In this work we propose a mechanism to account for the survival of purines and pyrimidines adsorbed in a solid surface in a high radiation field. |
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