Organic matter in comets and cometary dust

Authors

  • Jordi Llorca Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Spain

Keywords:

comets, cometary dust, interplanetary dust, prebiotic chemistry, chemical evolution, origin of life

Abstract

Comets are primitive conglomerates of the solar system containing a mixture of frozen gases, refractory grains, and carbonaceous particles rich in biogenic elements. The dramatic display of comets is mostly caused by a cloud of micrometer-sized dust particles that leave the comet nucleus when frozen gases sublimate as they approach the Sun. Analyses of cometary dust captured in the stratosphere together with data obtained from space missions to comets have revealed the presence of a great variety of organic molecules. Since substantial amounts of cometary dust were gently deposited on Earth, their organic content could have played a major role in prebiotic processes prior to the appearance of microorganisms. This review discusses the description and implications for life of the organic content of comets and cometary dust. [Int Microbiol 2005; 8(1):5-12]

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Published

2010-02-27

Issue

Section

Research Reviews