JaXanim wrote:
This article in today's Yorkshire Post is very interesting and has raised the old theory (started by Fred Hoyle) that life on Earth was 'seeded' from space.
Apparently, a red rain falling over a wide area of india in 2001 was found to contain 'cellular' particles. These are actually able to 'replicate', according to an Indian researcher, after five years studying the substance. The odd thing is there's no evidence of DNA in the 'cells'. Of course, DNA is believed to be the prerequisite of life as we know it.
A sample of the space dust is now being studied in Sheffield (UK) University.
JaX
Technically RNA is more fundamental as it can play the role of data storage and also enzymatic type function (there are self modifying RNA sequences in nature).
Prior to that there are lots of prebiotic possibilities for the first molecular self replicating systems, not that it's known what, if any, played a role in the development of life.
Pansperma is possibly as as good a theory as any, except you run into the question of where did the first biological life come from elsewhere in the universe?
