Chemists from the United States and the Netherlands managed to obtain in laboratory conditions simulating the environment near old stars, the precursors of RNA and DNA.

The results of personal research, the authors published in the Astrophysical Journal, and briefly they can be found on the website of the National laboratory behalf of the Lawrence Berkeley.

Chemists have recreated the conditions that occur near the dying star. In such carbon-rich bodies cease fusion reaction, however are the stuff of stars can serve as a source for the formation of a hard biomolecules.

To simulate circumstellar conditions (pressures and temperatures) researchers used the nozzle that is used for the formation of soot during combustion. It chemists sprayed acetylene, which synchrotron radiation was heated to a temperature of 700 Kelvin.

The result, scientists were able to obtain nitrogen-containing molecules quinoline and isoquinoline. As we are told the authors of a new study, it is likely that these compounds forming in the vicinity of old stars, discarded stellar wind over time from them.

"After how molecules are ejected into interstellar space in cool molecular clouds, they are condensed on the nanoparticles of these clouds, where it undergoes further changes. These processes can lead to more difficult molecules playing crucial for the formation of RNA and DNA," commented study 1 of its authors, Dr. Ralph Kaiser. He said that in his own experience as a research fellow for the first time could understand how it happens in space synthesis and further evolution of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds.
sections: Society, World News