Uracil and vitamin B3 in samples from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu

[msstice]

RNA compound and vitamin B3 found in samples from near-Earth asteroid | CNN

Organic molecules, including uracil and niacin, have been detected in samples collected by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. Uracil is a component of RNA while niacin is better known as vitamin B3, a key cofactor for metabolism.

www.cnn.com

From the article:

Organic molecules have been detected in samples collected by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu.

“When researchers analyzed the samples, collected from two different locations on the asteroid, they found uracil, one of the building blocks of RNA, as well as vitamin B3, or niacin (a key cofactor for metabolism in living organisms).

Uracil is a nucleobase, or a nitrogen-containing compound. It’s one of five nucleobases in DNA and RNA, the proteins and molecules that contain genetic information and instructions crucial for the cells of living organisms.

A study detailing the findings published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Wow!