title: Growth of organic microspherules in sugar-ammonia reactions.
abstract: Reaction of small sugars of less than four carbons with ammonia in water yielded organic microspherules generally less than ten microns in size. The time course of microspherule growth was examined for the D-erythrose-ammonia reaction that yielded microspherules attached to the glass walls of containers. Measurements were made of the elemental composition and infrared spectrum of the microspherule material. These viscose semi-solid microspherules are viewed as possible containers for prebiotic catalytic processes relevant to the origin of life.
authors.affiliation: SETI Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239-4, Moffett Field, CA, 94035-1000, USA. aweber@mailarc.nasa.gov
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069497:Origin of Life
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D000641:Ammonia