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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Key Component of Earth Life Found in Comet

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(Newser) – An amino acid necessary to the construction of proteins, and therefore life on Earth, has been found in a comet that passes through our solar system, Space.com reports. Glycine was found in samples picked up by a NASA spacecraft in 2004. The discovery suggests that life’s building blocks could have been “delivered to Earth long ago by meteorite and comet impacts,” a researcher says.

Comet Lulin streaks across the early morning sky.
Comet Lulin streaks across the early morning sky.   (AP Photo)
The new discovery leads some to believe that we are not alone in the universe.
The new discovery leads some to believe that we are not alone in the universe.   (AP Photo)
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The discovery of glycine in a comet supports the idea that the fundamental building blocks of life are prevalent in space, and strengthens the argument that life in the universe may be common rather than rare.
- Carl Pilcher, NASA Astrobiology Institute

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28 comments
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donnz
Aug 18, 09 2:54 PM CDT
"Glycine delivered by comet, building blocks of Life on Planet Earth... Looking similar to dna in sperm reaching ovum & fertilization. Where have I seen that before? hmmm. Reply
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-2
SalParadise
Aug 18, 09 2:55 PM CDT
Now THIS is news. Very neat find. Reply
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+12
IN RESPONSE:
npkimmey
Aug 18, 09 3:32 PM CDT
Actually, this has been observed before. Though it is quite interesting.
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
SalParadise
Aug 19, 09 11:58 AM CDT
I know it's been observed and largely theorized before, but to find further evidence of a shaky scientific theory is always a neat find.
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+3
donnz
Aug 18, 09 2:58 PM CDT
OH yeah, Our Universe is a giant womb & we humans, are simply bacteria devouring everything in our cancerous path. Reply
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