As some of us may be aware, the Planetary society is sponsoring a "pseudo" trans-spermia experiment; in which, a cannister of "pre-biotic" molecules is launched into space and orbits Phobos and returns home... Given the vagaries of space and the possibilities of what might happen to the contents of the cannister during the round-trip... e.g. degradation of the molecules from harsh ionizing radiation, alteration of the structure of the molecules, etc...it seems like this may have been done before...
http://www.planetary.org/programs/pr..._20081015.html
I have read papers in the some-what recent past that state the sorts of molecules that are and may have been present in the so-called "soup":
(1)
Pre-biotic synthesis from CO atmospheres: Implications for the origins of life
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2002
(2)
Amino Acids in the Martian meteorite Nakhla
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 1999
(3)
Identification of diamino acids in the Murchison meteorite
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2004
(4)
Hydropyrolysis of insoluble carbonaceous matter in the Murchison meteorite: New insights into its macromolecular structure
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2004
(5)
Fullerenes: An extraterrestrial carbon carrier phase for noble gases
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2000
Although the papers are "dated"... I am trying to optimistically point out ( milk and cookies, included ) that there is a definite long road to hoe over the discussion as whether we are it(?) or how many other places support life (including intelligent life). I don't want to stoke the fire, but this seems to be what de-bunking bad science is about...
Please correct my citations if need be...
Best Regards
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post script
I am not using the citations for any type of homework, thesis, or major scholarly work)...feel free to use them (if need be...)