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Astrobiology
Article
Data sources: UnpayWall
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Astrobiology
Article . 2018 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
Astrobiology
Article . 2019
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Strategies for Detecting Biological Molecules on Titan

Authors: Neish, Catherine; Lorenz, Ralph; Turtle, Elizabeth; Barnes, Jason; Trainer, Melissa; Stiles, Bryan; Kirk, Randolph; +2 Authors

Strategies for Detecting Biological Molecules on Titan

Abstract

Saturn's moon Titan has all the ingredients needed to produce "life as we know it." When exposed to liquid water, organic molecules analogous to those found on Titan produce a range of biomolecules such as amino acids. Titan thus provides a natural laboratory for studying the products of prebiotic chemistry. In this work, we examine the ideal locales to search for evidence of, or progression toward, life on Titan. We determine that the best sites to identify biological molecules are deposits of impact melt on the floors of large, fresh impact craters, specifically Sinlap, Selk, and Menrva craters. We find that it is not possible to identify biomolecules on Titan through remote sensing, but rather through in situ measurements capable of identifying a wide range of biological molecules. Given the nonuniformity of impact melt exposures on the floor of a weathered impact crater, the ideal lander would be capable of precision targeting. This would allow it to identify the locations of fresh impact melt deposits, and/or sites where the melt deposits have been exposed through erosion or mass wasting. Determining the extent of prebiotic chemistry within these melt deposits would help us to understand how life could originate on a world very different from Earth. Key Words: Titan-Prebiotic chemistry-Solar system exploration-Impact processes-Volcanism. Astrobiology 18, 571-585.

Country
Canada
Keywords

Geologic Sediments, 550, Titan; Prebiotic chemistry; Solar system exploration; Impact processes; Volcanism, Extraterrestrial Environment, Atmosphere, Impact processes, The Sun and the Solar System, 500, Water, Biosensing Techniques, Saturn, Solar system exploration, Volcanism, Exobiology, Freezing, Earth Sciences, Amino Acids, Titan, Prebiotic chemistry

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
47
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
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bronze