Computer Science
Scientific paper
May 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999oleb...29..329b&link_type=abstract
Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, v. 29, Issue 3, p. 329-332 (1999).
Computer Science
11
Scientific paper
Recent investigations of stable isotope ratios of amino acids from the Murchison meteorite have shown them to be of unambiguous extraterrestrial origin, and examinations of their enantiomeric compositions, where terrestrial contamination can be excluded, have found a consistent excess of L-enantiomers. One explanation for this observation has been the asymmetric photolysis of racemic extraterrestrial amino acids by circularly polarized light (CPL) in the synchrotron radiation from orbiting electrons around the pulsar remnants of supernovae. Mason (1997) has attempted to discredit this mechanism on the grounds that circular dichroism (CD) bands for optically active molecules alternate in sign and sum to zero over the entire spectrum, and hence enantioselective photochemical reactions cannot be induced by broad band CPL. We submit arguments disputing this conclusion and present reasons for expecting that broad band CPL synchrotron radiation would be quite capable of inducing asymmetric photolysis, particularly in aliphatic amino acids.
Bonner William A.
Brown George S.
Rubenstein Edward
No associations
LandOfFree
Extraterrestrial Handedness: A Reply does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Extraterrestrial Handedness: A Reply, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Extraterrestrial Handedness: A Reply will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1193183