Formation of nucleobases in a Miller–Urey reducing atmosphere

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700010114
• Publication Date: 2017-04-11T00:55:27Z
• Authors: Martin Ferus; Fabio Pietrucci; Antonino Marco Sa...; Antonín Knížek; Petr Kubelík; Ondřej Ivanek; Violetta Shestivska; Svatopluk Civiš
• Keywords: Nucleobase

Significance The study shows that Miller–Urey experiments produce RNA nucleobases in discharges and laser-driven plasma impact simulations carried out a simple prototype of reducing atmosphere containing ammonia carbon monoxide. We self-standing description chemistry relevant to hypothesis abiotic synthesis related early-Earth chemical evolution under conditions. research addresses the simple-model (NH 3 + CO H 2 O) role formamide as an intermediate nucleobase formation experiment. explorations combine performed using modern techniques large, high-power shock wave generation by hall terawatt lasers, electric discharges, state-of-the-art ab initio free-energy calculations.