While the origin of life remains mysterious, scientists are
finding more and more evidence that material created in space and delivered to
Earth by comet and meteor impacts could have given a boost to the start of
life. Some meteorites supply molecules that can be used as building blocks to
make certain kinds of larger molecules that are critical for life.
Researchers have analyzed carbon-rich meteorites
(carbonaceous chondrites) and found amino acids, which are used to make
proteins. Proteins are among the most important molecules in life, used to make
structures like hair and skin, and to speed up or regulate chemical reactions.
They have also found components used to make DNA, the molecule that carries the
instructions for how to build and regulate a living organism, as well as other
biologically important molecules like nitrogen heterocycles, sugar-related
organic compounds, and compounds found in modern metabolism.