With both catalytic and genetic functions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) is perhaps the most
pluripotent chemical species in molecular biology, and its functions are intimately linked to …

Astrochemistry and astrobiology, the fascinating disciplines that strive to unravel the origin of
life, have opened unprecedented and unpredicted vistas into exotic compounds as well as …

Reported here are experiments that show that ribonucleoside triphosphates are converted to
polyribonucleic acid when incubated with rock glasses similar to those likely present 4.3–4.4 …

The Miller–Urey experiments pioneered modern research on the molecular origins of life,
but their actual relevance in this field was later questioned because the gas mixture used in …

It is assumed that RNA played a key role in the origin of life, and the transition to more
complex but more stable DNA for continuous information storage and replication requires …

We show that carbonaceous chondrite meteorites actively and selectively catalyze the
formation of relevant prebiotic molecules from formamide in aqueous media. Specific …

Mechanochemical activation of iron cyano complexes by ball milling results in the formation
of HCN, which can be trapped and incorporated into α‐aminonitriles. This prebiotic impact …

The formation of peptide bonds is one of the most important biochemical reaction steps.
Without the development of structurally and catalytically active polymers, there would be no …

The traditional tree of life from molecular biology with last universal common ancestor
(LUCA) branching into bacteria and archaea (though fuzzy) is likely formally valid enough to …

Context. It is well known that hydrogen cyanide and formamide can universally be
considered as key molecules in prebiotic synthesis. Despite the fact that formamide has …