D. J. Scott
[Last Update: June 28th, 2018]

Other Experiments


Protoplanetary Disk Snowline Sublimation & Recondensation Simulation
An experiment designed to simulate cycles of sublimation and recondensation of H2O ices on spinning grains along the snowline of the protoplanetary disk.
Protoplanetary Particle Snowline Accretion Simulation
an experiment designed to simulate the accretion of smaller astrophysical grains into larger planetasimals along the snowline of the protoplanetary disk.


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D. Jon Scott’s WebsiteSciencePhysicsChemistry ► Organic Chemistry ► Prebiotic Synthesis & Abiogenesis

Prebiotic Synthesis Experiment:

Protoplanetary Disk Snowline Collision Simulation
Copyright © 2018 by Dustin Jon Scott
[Last Update: June 6th, 2018]

Abstract

Part I

Background

Part I.a.

Inspiration

Vigure 1 — Jennifer Blank's Experiments

Part II

Materials

Inspired by Dr. Jennifer Blank’s ground-breaking work (Blank & al. 2001), this experiment should employ cylindrical protoplanetary particle analogues (CPPPAs or C3PAs) mimicking the ice-mantled grains that would've existed on the snowline of the protoplanetary Solar disk, with each C3PA consisting of a clayey, silicate-heavy grain slug topped with an H2O-rich ice layer, to test whether high-velocity impacts between protoplanetary grains could’ve generated other kinds of molecular bonds, such as hydrogen bonds and phosphodiester bonds, and thus yield other complex organic molecules or perhaps even macromolecules.

Part II.a.

Cylindrical Protoplanetary Particle Analogues

Part II.a-1.

Grain Slug Composition

Grain composition — clays/silicates, adenine, guanine, pyrimidine, uracil.

Grain Slug Composition
CompoundSource
AdenineMurchison meteorite
Alkyl phosphonic acidsMurchison meteorite (Cooper &al., 1992)
Alkyl sulfonic acidsMurchison meteorite (Cooper &al., 1992)
Aluminous spinelCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
AluminumCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
AnorthiteCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
Calcic pyroxeneCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
CalciumCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
Fosterite-rich olivineCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
GuanineMurchison meteorite
HiboniteCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
Inorganic phosphateMurchison meteorite (Cooper &al., 1992)
MeliliteCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
PerovskiteCalcium-Aluminum-rich or Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite.
UracilMurchison meteorite

Part II.a-2.

Ice Layer Composition
Ice Layer Composition
CompoundSource
CytosineExperiments with astrophysical ice analogues.
Dihydrogen monoxide
Purine
Pyrimidine
RiboseExperiments with astrophysical ice analogues.
ThymineExperiments with astrophysical ice analogues.

Part II.b.

Atmosphere

Part III

Methods

Part IV

Projected Results

Just as Jennifer Blank’s experiments input amino acids and output peptides, it may be possible with the inclusion of the nucleobases to produce peptide nucleic acid (PNA), or with the inclusion of phosphates and ribose to produce phosphorylated ribose, or perhaps even phosphodiester bonds and short RNA chains (possibly even taking the form of “messy” RNA).

Part V

Future Experiments

Any organic compounds produced in this experiment should be used as ingredients/reactants/inputs for protoplanetary disk snowline sublimation & recondensation simulations and protoplanetary particle accretion simulations.

References