JMDMT #493 Microfossils of Cyanobacteria in Carbonaceous Meteorites

The James M. DuPont Meteorite Collection - From a historical point of view, it should be said that at the turn of the last century, cyanogen and hydrocyanic acid' were thought to be involved in the synthesis of proteins and purines in living organisms. These have since been found to be erroneous concepts. Nevertheless, it is of interest that such early ideas may apply to the abiogenic formation of these compounds. Studies on the polymerization of hydrocyanic acid were initially carried out more than 150 years ago,'- and, therefore, it is highly probable that purines, purine inter- mediates, and other compounds of biological significance were synthesized in the laboratory many times since then, yet have remained unidentified until the present time. Interesting observations bearing on the synthesis of purines from hydrogen cyanide were