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Friday, 29 March 2024

Cosmic rays may be the source of biological 'handedness'

Credit: Reuters - 3D Animations (Next Me
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Cosmic rays may be the source of biological 'handedness'
Cosmic rays may be the source of biological 'handedness'

Interaction between cosmic rays and early life-forms may be responsible for the fundamental property of chirality, or "handedness," in biological molecules.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Interaction between cosmic rays and early life-forms may be responsible for the fundamental property of chirality, or "handedness," in biological molecules, according to a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Cosmic rays are constantly bombarding Earth.

When they hit the atmosphere, they degrade into cascades of elementary particles.

Many organic molecules such as DNA and RNA can be constructed in "left-handed" and "right-handed" versions.

In the paper, the researchers propose that the prebiotic soup on ancient Earth produced both left and right-handed versions of these nucleic acids.

The paper argues that charged particles from cosmic rays affected right and left-handed molecules differently, conferring an evolutionary advantage on one chirality.

This led to life dominated by a single biological handedness.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Cosmic rays bombarding Earth 2.

Cosmic rays degrade into elementary particles in the Earth's atmosphere 3.

Ancient Earth produced both left and right-handed proto-lifeforms 4.

Charged particles from cosmic rays affected "right-handed" and "left-handed" molecules differently, offering an evolutionary advantage to one chirality VOICEOVER (in English): "In new research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists from New York University and Stanford University speculate that the interaction between cosmic rays and early life-forms may be responsible for the fundamental property of chirality in biological molecules." "Showers of highly energetic, charged particles from the Sun called cosmic rays are constantly bombarding the Earth.

When they hit the Earth's atmosphere, they degrade into cascades of elementary particles." "Many organic molecules such as DNA and RNA can be constructed in 'left-handed' and 'right-handed' versions that are mirror images of each other.

In the paper, the researchers propose that the prebiotic soup on ancient Earth produced both left and right-handed versions of these nucleic acids." "The paper argues that when charged particles from cosmic ray cascades reached the Earth's surface, they affected right-handed and left-handed molecules differently, giving an evolutionary advantage to one chirality.

Over time this led to life dominated by a single biological handedness." SOURCES: The Astrophysical Journal Letters https://arxiv.org/pdf/1911.02525.pdf https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab8dc6 *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377

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