New Molecule Found in Space

[Dryson]

The discovery of a strangely branched organic molecule in the depths of interstellar space has capped a decades-long search for the carbon-bearing stuff.
The molecule in question — iso-propyl cyanide (i-C3H7CN) — was spotted in Sagittarius B2, a huge star-making cloud of gas and dust near the center of the Milky Way, about 27,000 light-years from the sun. The discovery suggests that some of the key ingredients for life on Earth could have originated in interstellar space.

http://www.space.com/27262-space-dust-molecule-origins-of-life.html

All other organic molecules that have been detected in space so far (including normal-propyl cyanide, the sister of i-C3H7CN) are made of a straight chain with a carbon backbone. Iso-propyl cyanide, however, has a "branched" structure. Perhaps the straight chain with a carbon backbone is how protozoa like the paramecium evolved. A straight carbon backbone or nervous system would only have a few nodes from which the developing organism would be able to attach other molecules to the carbon backbone to create its system. The Iso-propyl cyanide molecule has a branched structure which could suggest that the branched system just like the roots of a tree and the leaves at the end of the tree branches would be able to attach more molecules to the nervous system that would allow the species to evolve. The more branches on the carbon nervous system the better the ability if the backbone to support life such as humans.

normal-propyl cyanide carbon backbone = single celled organisms such as the paramecium because of the lack of branches on the carbon nervous system backbone.

Iso-propyl cyanide = humanoid and other bipedal forms of life such as humans and mice because of the increased branches on the carbon nervous system backbone.


http://www.space.com/27262-space-dust-molecule-origins-of-life.html

 

[PlixTixiplik]

Tissue and organ structures like the nervous system are much, much larger than single molecules, so the branching pattern of an individual molecule like isopropyl cyanide isn't related to large-scale organism structures. Also, living organisms, from single-celled creatures to humans, are built from larger molecules like proteins, amino acids, and lipids, not specifically from isopropyl cyanide.

The importance of this discovery is that it provides more evidence that simple organic molecules, which could include biologically-important molecules such as amino acids, can be produced in space and therefore may have been present on Earth from nearly the beginning of the solar system. Isopropyl cyanide isn't itself relevant to the origins of life, but it is the largest organic molecule (and "organic" just refers to a carbon chain, not belonging to a living organism) yet found.

I'll also note that amino acids, which are important molecules for the origin of life, have previously been found in meteorites.

 

[publiusr]

My own pet theory about abiogenesis is this:

Biology takes you only so far back--chemistry only so far forward.

I think mechanical forcing is the key. Early Earth was hotter, more smokers acting like organic chemistry labs all over the planet. Powerful tides.

Now I remember hearing about water tornadoes in the channeled scablands
http://iceagefloods.blogspot.com/2008/10/deep-lake-potholes.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdDi4YTgqfM
http://www.thegreatstory.org/scablands.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3211_megafloo.html

Now I'm thinking early tides and organics were whipped up by vorticity.

Early on, the F-5 Xenia Ohio twister was a pair of suction vortices in a double helix shape before becoming a wedge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-9HBpHN_uY

So here is my hypothesis: DNA is the afterimage of early aquatic vortex action shrunk down, hurled into intertidal zones

--later tides have trouble reaching as tidal levels decline as the moon moves away. Plenty of organic percolate.

The result? Life.

 

[Dryson]

normal-propyl cyanide carbon backbone = single celled organisms such as the paramecium because of the lack of branches on the carbon nervous system backbone.

Iso-propyl cyanide = humanoid and other bipedal forms of life such as humans and mice because of the increased branches on the carbon nervous system backbone.


This is comparison between how a carbon backbone with less branches will most likely not have enough leaves to gather available sunlight as opposed to a carbon backbone with more branches that has more leaves available to gather sunlight.

The ability of a plant or life form to take in more energy from the sun for use in other facilities of the plant of life form means that the plant or life form has a greater potential to increase its size and in the case of humans brain activity.

What causes a Redwood Tree to grow so tall? Its ability to take in as much sunlight and C2O as possible where it then converts the sunlight and C20 into energy to feed cells that cause it to grow so tall and thick.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Science.

 

[Silvercrest]

Where? *looks this way and that*