Homochirality as the signature of life: the SETH Cigar.
Planet Space Sci
; 44(11): 1441-6, 1996 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11541123
ABSTRACT
A characteristic hallmark of life is its homochirality all biomolecules are usually of one hand, e.g. on Earth life uses only L-amino acids for protein synthesis and not their D mirror images. It is therefore suggested that a search for extra-terrestrial life can be approached as a Search for Extra-Terrestrial Homochirality (SETH). A novel miniaturized space polarimeter, called the SETH Cigar, is described which could he used to detect optical rotation as the homochiral signature of life on other planets. Moving parts are avoided by replacing the normal rotating polarizer by multiple fixed polarizers at different angles as in the eye of the bee. It is believed that homochirality will be found in the subsurface layers on Mars as a relic of extinct life.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Astronomía
/
Marte
/
Exobiología
/
Medio Ambiente Extraterrestre
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Planet Space Sci
Año:
1996
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido