NASA finds DNA components in meteorites, says they originated in space

[untitled]

Its NOT science fiction. There is evidence to suggest that maybe asteroids carry some simple molecules through space which may be transferred to a planet to "seed" life. But no conclusive evidence. So people dont believe it yet.

But you are presenting it as if it is the Gospel truth.... it is just a unproven theory ..... I have no problem with accepting if it turns out to be true... neither does it affect my religious believes in any way

 

[gubbi]

Every people on earth had some form of religion.

There corrected there for you.

Yes. Religions existed for a long time. They were created to try to explain many things unknown or incomprehensible to humans during that time period. We have had religious rituals praying for rain till recently. Now with advances in metereological analysis and data, who does that anymore?

Basically religions were created to try to explain the perplexing world around humans. They didnt understand day/night cycles, sun-rise sun-set, weather changes etc. So God made them. Along with that came incorporation of good and bad to control fringe elements in the pack. WHat have you now is a well defined religion. Simple as that. Primates and many animals exihibit altruistic behavior though they dont follow any religion.

 

[untitled]

Apparently it is not as science fiction as we think. This will actually be a pretty big deal in the science world if proven conclusively.

So will cold fusion
So will time travel
So will travel at the speed of light

 

[gubbi]

But you are presenting it as if it is the Gospel truth.... it is just a unproven theory ..... I have no problem with accepting if it turns out to be true... neither does it affect my religious believes in any way

I do NOT. There is no "gospel" truth. read the original article on this thread. It gives some evidence to the panspermia theory. But thats all there is to ti. Period. We do NOT jump to conclusions unlike in religion.

 

[gubbi]

Can DNA strands survive the enormous heat generated during entry into earth's atmosphere? Biology has never been my subject.

If they exist on the cooler side of the meteorite during atmospheric entry. Or may be if the molecules are embedded deep inside the space rocks, or beneath layers of ice and dust - usually found on asteroids.

It's a good question. I think it depends on the size and the composition of the meteorite. If the evidence here is to be believed, it is possible. The DNA material probably could only be preserved here on earth in places like Antarctica given the prevalence of DNAse in inhabitable environments.

High temperatures denature DNA, unless the organism contains specific proteins to help prevent such an occurrence. DNAse is a protein which chews up DNA molecules. But yes, thermophiles - microorganisms dwelling in hot-water springs, sulphuric acid springs etc do contain highly evolved proteins which help prevent DNA degradation and also a highly stable form of the protein DNA polymerase - which can synthesize DNA even in such high temperatures. FYI, this protein from such thermophiles is used routinely in molecular biology labs in cloning genes - using a technique called PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction.

 

[CardSharp]

If they exist on the cooler side of the meteorite during atmospheric entry. Or may be if the molecules are embedded deep inside the space rocks, or beneath layers of ice and dust - usually found on asteroids.


High temperatures denature DNA, unless the organism contains specific proteins to help prevent such an occurrence. DNAse is a protein which chews up DNA molecules. But yes, thermophiles - microorganisms dwelling in hot-water springs, sulphuric acid springs etc do contain highly evolved proteins which help prevent DNA degradation and also a highly stable form of the protein DNA polymerase - which can synthesize DNA even in such high temperatures. FYI, this protein from such thermophiles is used routinely in molecular biology labs in cloning process - using a technique called PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction.

I just meant that if the meteorite crashed anywhere other than Antarctica there was a good chance the DNA samples found this time wouldn't have been preserved.

 

[gubbi]

I just meant that if the meteorite crashed anywhere other than Antarctica there was a good chance the DNA samples found this time wouldn't have been preserved.

Maybe not DNA as a whole/part molecule. But fragments may and many times do survive any environment. That and ruling out contamination form terrestrial DNA material.

 

[acemaster]

Religious tycoons will come up with a solution to "weld" this accusation like all other fingers pointed,with the general terms of the religious texts.

Religion is like a herd,while Science is a herd of 12 antler-less deer,interestingly they both are interdependent.

 

[untitled]

There corrected there for you.
We have had religious rituals praying for rain till recently. Now with advances in meteorological analysis and data, who does that anymore?

We cant definitely predict the weather properly can we ? How many people saw the floods in Pakistan, the Tsunami in Japan, the Tornadoes in the US coming.... The atmosphere is too big.... Too many variables.... I am not saying we should not try to understand it

Basically religions were created to try to explain the perplexing world around humans. They didnt understand day/night cycles, sun-rise sun-set, weather changes etc. So God made them

Religion that was reveled to man were in a pure form
Those explanations ..... mixing of natural phenomena and religion occurred when clerics turned their jobs in to a business.... They tired to explain everything with religion ... that is when things got ugly.

Primates and many animals exhibit altruistic behavior though they dont follow any religion.

They may not appear to follow any religion but they are guided by a creator

 

[Skull and Bones]

I just meant that if the meteorite crashed anywhere other than Antarctica there was a good chance the DNA samples found this time wouldn't have been preserved.

Or the asteroid might get contaminated after crashing into earth's atmosphere.

 

[CardSharp]

Or the asteroid might get contaminated after crashing into earth's atmosphere.

One of the things they have to rule out.

 

[gubbi]

Religion that was reveled to man were in a pure form
Those explanations ..... mixing of natural phenomena and religion occurred when clerics turned their jobs in to a business.... They tired to explain everything with religion ... that is when things got ugly.

How are things any different with today's religions?

They may not appear to follow any religion but they are guided by a creator

If you believe so! How thankless those animals are that they dont worship their creator but exhibit emotions such as compassion and respect while how grateful humans are to his/her creator(s) while killing and slaughtering their fellow humans in the very name they profess to worship! See the irony?

 

[untitled]

Well how do you know a pieces of rock is from outer space in the first place ? What kind of elements are not found on earth ?

 

[Splurgenxs]

Can DNA strands survive the enormous heat generated during entry into earth's atmosphere? Biology has never been my subject.

Not just dna but life can evolve around any form of subjugation..There are numerous examples on earth be it Crustaceans thriving on underwater sulfur magma vents or be it nitrogen bast organisms living within solid rock eating sulfur.

That is why i think the next phase of human tec evolution would be the ability to go beyond metals and tap the seemingly infinite possibilities of biological evolution.

Ever wondered how ,Jiant squids or blue wales survive so deep under water where even dense metals implode...and the capability to comeback up without there juices spilling out due to de pressurization(ATM)?

Nothings Impossible for bio evolution...only if we could speed up the process down to a few years somehow..
(We can already create a clone from a dna) ...we just need some kind of short cut to kno what dna can produce what resultant organism with XYZ traits

 

[untitled]

How are things any different with today's religions?

That is why one has to study the texts of a religon ... not what a cleric or a sect says..... you will find all the religions have so much in common.... because they came from the same source.

If you believe so! How thankless those animals are that they don;t worship their creator but exhibit emotions such as compassion and respect while how grateful humans are to his/her creator(s) while killing and slaughtering their fellow humans in the very name they profess to worship! See the irony?

May be they are not required too .... does a car worship its manufacturer ? It cant even fathom the concept.
As for the killings ..... all the so called religious wars fought for secular reasons ... even the crusades