The international research team comprising scientists from the Netherlands, Britain and the United States, made an interesting discovery during research on the Murchison meteorite, which fell 39 years ago to one of the Australian deserts.

The researchers found that the material found in the Murchison meteorite contains molecules and xanthine - nitrogen bases incorporated in the nucleotide precursor molecules forming RNA and DNA. Work is currently underway on determining whether the discovered molecules came to earth from space, or are the result of contamination, which occurred when a space rock hit the Earth's surface. Laboratory analysis indicated that the first opportunity - the nucleotides contain isotopes of carbon, which arises only in space, which means that the researchers examined the components making up the DNA also come from outer space. According to Dr Zita Martins of Imperial College London, the discovery team can provide further guidance needed to answer the question of the origin of life on Earth.

About 3.8 to 4.5 billion years ago, large chunks of rocks similar to those of the Murchison meteorite regularly bombed the Earth. At the same time on the planet were first primitive forms of life, so it is possible that his sources were brought to the molecule is the meteor shower. Murchison meteorite fell to Earth September 28, 1969 year. Its name comes from a small village lying on the Goulburn River in the Australian state of Victoria. Murchison is one of the most studied materials originating from outer space - from the fall was able to obtain about 100 kg of materials originating from the meteorite, in pieces, with the largest weight was 7 kg.