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AsteriaStar
Interstellar molecule

Amino-Acid Precursors

The molecular building blocks from which amino acids can form — some detected in space and in the ices of comets, and amino acids themselves found in meteorites such as Murchison. They link the chemistry of the interstellar medium to the origin of life.

Highlights

  • The interstellar link to the building blocks of life

Across astrochemistry

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.