Ryugu asteroid: RNA compound, vitamin B3 found in samples collected by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission.
Organic molecules have been detected in samples collected by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu.
“When researchers analyzed the samples, collected from two different locations on the asteroid, they found uracil, one of the building blocks of RNA, as well as vitamin B3, or niacin (a key cofactor for metabolism in living organisms).
Uracil is a nucleobase, or a nitrogen-containing compound.
It’s one of five nucleobases in DNA and RNA, the proteins and molecules that contain genetic information and instructions crucial for the cells of living organisms.
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A study detailing the findings published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Ryugu is a carbon-rich, diamond-shaped asteroid that measures about 3,000 feet (1 kilometer) wide.
Foreign RNA compound vitamin B3 found in samples Collected by Japan's Hayabusa2 Mission organic molecules have Been detected and samples collected by Japan's Hayabusa2 Mission from the near-earth Asteroid ryogu when researchers analyze The samples collected from two different Locations on the asteroid they found Uracil one of the building blocks of RNA As well as vitamin B3 or niacin a key Cofactor for metabolism in living Organisms uracil is a nucleobase or a Nitrogen-containing compound it's one of Five nucleobases in DNA and RNA the Proteins and molecules that contain Genetic information and instructions Crucial for the cells of living Organisms to stay up to date with latest Top stories make sure to subscribe to This YouTube channel by clicking the Button above this video a study Detailing the findings published Tuesday In the journal Nature Communications Rayogu is a carbon-rich diamond-shaped Asteroid that measures about 3 3000 feet One kilometer wide h a y a b u s A2 was The first mission to return a subsurface Sample from an asteroid to Earth the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency Mission collected one sample from the Asteroid's surface in February 2019 then Fired a copper bullet into the asteroid
To create a 33 foot 10 meter white Impact crater a sample was collected From this crater in July 2019 then Hayabusa2 flew by Earth and dropped the Sample off in Australia in December 2020. in earlier analyzes researchers Detected amino acids and other molecules And ryogu samples while uracil and Niacin have also been found in Meteorites that landed on earth Scientists have previously found Nucleobases and vitamins in certain Carbon-rich meteorites but there was Always the question of contamination by Exposure to the Earth's environment said Lead study author yasahiro Oba associate Professor at hikato University in Japan In a statement since the hay Usa2 spacecraft collected two samples Directly from asteroid rayogu and Delivered them to Earth and sealed Capsules contamination can be ruled out The researchers discovered the molecules When they soaked particles collected From ryogo in hot water and analyzed the Results using different observational Methods such as liquid chromatography And mass spectrometry scientists worked With samples collected from two Different sites on the near-earth Asteroid ryogu then the team detected The signatures of uracil niacin and Other organic compounds containing Nitrogen other biological molecules were
Found in the sample as well including a Selection of amino acids amines and Carboxylic acids which are found in Proteins and Metabolism respectively Oba Said together the findings from ryogu's Samples so far add to the increasing Evidence that the building blocks of Life originated in space and were Originally delivered to Earth billions Of years ago by meteorites the molecules Likely originally formed through Photochemical reactions in ice and out Outer space before our solar system even Existed Oba said the concentrations of The molecules in the two samples were Different but that's likely due to Exposure to the harsh environment of Space it's possible that ryogu was once Part of a larger Celestial body like a Comet before it was broken apart into Pieces by collisions with other space Objects it is no doubt that biologically Important molecules such as amino acids And nucleobases in asteroids meteorites Have been provided to the Earth obasad In particular we expect they might play A role for Prebiotic Evolution on the Early Earth it's also possible that a Space Rock smashed into other planets in Our solar system they might have been Carrying some of the same building Blocks of life I cannot say the presence Of such ingredients directly leads to The emergence presence of
Extraterrestrial life but at least their Components such as amino acids and Nucleobases may be present everywhere in Space obaset now the researchers want to Know how common these molecules are in Asteroids fortunately a sample from Another asteroid named bennu will be Delivered to Earth in September by NASA's Origins spectral interpretation Resource identification security Regolith Explorer or osiris-rex Spacecraft the discovery of uracil in The samples from ryogu lends strength to Current theories regarding the source of Nucleobases in the early Earth obasad The osiris-rex mission by NASA will be Returning samples from asteroid bennu This year and a comparative study of the Composition of these asteroids will Provide further data to build on these Theories Foreign
