The five molecules at the base of DNA found in samples from the asteroid Ryugu
Japanese scientists analyzed samples from the asteroid Ryugu brought back to Earth by the Hayabusa2 mission.
These samples (about 5.4 g of dust and rocks) revealed something extraordinary: the five basic molecules necessary to form DNA and RNA. �
The 5 molecules found
Researchers have identified the following nucleobases:
📌Adenine
📌Guanine
📌Cytosine
📌Thymine
📌Uracil
The first four make up DNA, while uracil replaces thymine in RNA.
🤔Why is this discovery important?
R/These molecules are the fundamental building blocks of life as they allow for the storage and transmission of genetic information.
Finding them in an asteroid means that:
📌The building blocks of life can form in space.
📌Asteroids or meteorites may have delivered these molecules to primordial Earth.
📌This could explain how life began on our planet.
This study suggests that Earth may not have created the necessary molecules for life on its own. Some of these ingredients may have been delivered by asteroids like Ryugu billions of years ago, contributing to the emergence of life.
Source:
https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/03/16/les-cinq-molecules-a-la-base-de-l-adn-retrouvees-dans-les-echantillons-de-l-asteroide-ryugu_6671446_1650684.html
