Abstract

BHUSHAN TEWARI, Brij  and  WAYNE WEBSTER, Rawl. LIFE ORIGINATES ON PRIMITIVE EARTH OR ON OTHER PLANETS IS STILL A SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY. Rev. Bol. Quim [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.1, pp.77-81. ISSN 0250-5460.

The bioorganic compounds found in the primitive terrestrial atmosphere or extraterrestrial environment like comets has been controversial. According to the first view it is well known that bioorganic compounds such as amino acids are easily formed in a mixture of methane, ammonia and water, that is a strongly reduced atmosphere, when spark discharges, ultraviolet light and X-ray irradiation are used as energy sources. According to the second view the primitive earth atmosphere was mildly reduced; therefore formation of amino acids and other bioorganic compounds were difficult to form. It is suggested that various kind of organic compounds exist in space, e.g. comets and meteorites.