Key Components of DNA and RNA Found in Three Meteorites

Using state-of-the-art analytical strategies, researchers have detected various suites of nucleobases — together with canonical base pairs (e.g., adenine-uracil, guanine-cytosine, adenine-thymine) and a few non-canonical ones (e.g., isoguanine-isocytosine and xanthine-2,4-diaminopyrimidine) — in three carbonaceous meteorites: the Murchison, Murray, and Tagish Lake meteorites. Two varieties of chemical constructing blocks, or nucleobases, are wanted to kind DNA and RNA. […]