|
Unit 6.1 MiniDoc: The Molecules
of Life
The molecules of life are identified in interstellar clouds
from their infrared spectra. Modern chemical technology
makes it possible to simulate the production of these molecules
in the laboratory.
Video program cues: 00:30 — 5:15
The building blocks of life
"In a conversation I had with a friend
working at Chevron Research in New Jersey, I showed him
some of the spectra [from the Orion Nebula] and he said:
Boy, that’s funny, you ought to look in this old paper
by Rosen and Nobocopf on soot-studies. So, I found the paper,
and sure enough, the spectrum of auto-exhaust soot of Los
Angeles matched the best spectrum from the Orion Nebula.
That’s what started us realizing that soot is made
out of Carbon, high temperature carbon and aromatic molecules,
which are similar to those in interstellar nebulae. From
there came this wonderful theory, that the conditions of
outer space are just right for turning simple elements into
molecules which are the building blocks of life."
Dr. Lou Allamandola
NASA Ames Research Center
Link
Simulating interstellar molecules
"We can’t build a black hole or
a supernova in the lab. But we can do a very nice job making
a little cell, the size of a shoebox, in which we can get
very low temperatures and very high vacuum, and expose it
to radiation similar to the radiation in the spectrum of
starlight, and we can follow the chemistry within this shoebox."
Dr. Lou Allamandola
NASA Ames Research Center
Link
- NASA’s
astrobiology site, rich in information for teachers
and students. Clicking on "education" left navigation
bar provides links to many other resources for teachers.
Reading
Rawls, R. (1999)' At Ames Research Center, NASA Chemists
Search for Clues to Life, 'Chemical & Engineering
News, Vol. 77, No. 51, pp: 29-32.
Building the molecules of life
"If you’re going to build life,
odds are it’s going to be made from carbon, nitrogen,
and oxygen. We found in our lab that we can make very complicated
things, relative to our starting materials; we are just
beginning to understand this kind of chemistry."
Dr. Lou Allamandola
NASA Ames Research Center
Link
- This site has organized research and articles about
the origins
of life into a chronology with links to the original
sources. Not all links on this site are active, but there
is much useful information here.
Reading
Rawji, G.H. (1997)' Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements
in the Chemistry of Life. An Introduction and Guide by Wolfgang
Kaim and Brigitte Schwerderski, 'Journal of Chemical
Education, Vol. 74, pp: 382-383
Self assembly in water
"When we add water to this material
and look at it under the microscope, it starts to self-organize.
What this means is that little droplets of it will form
membranes, which are little hollow spheres that can separate
the chemistry of the inside from the outside. In addition,
if you turn off the lights and expose it to UV light, they
glow. They harness energy from the outside environment,
do something with it, and get rid of the excess energy."
Dr. Lou Allamandola
NASA Ames Research Center
Link
- A NASA
news release on the laboratory creation of biological
molecules similar to those found in deep space.
| Proceed
to Unit 6.2 |
 |
|
