Can DNA bases be produced during molecular cloud collapse?

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that DNA bases like adenine can form naturally during molecular cloud collapse, suggesting life's building blocks might have been present on Earth from the start.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive chemical reaction network showing the potential formation of DNA bases during star formation, a novel insight into prebiotic chemistry.

Findings

Significant adenine production occurs during molecular cloud evolution.

Chemical modeling suggests prebiotic molecules could be widespread in space.

Implications for the origin of life on Earth.

Abstract

Using a reasonably large chemical reaction network consisting of 421 species, we show that along with normal chemical evolution of molecular cloud during collapse and star formation, significant amount of adenine, a DNA base, may be produced after an evolution of 10^{6-7} years. This findings may shed light on whether life on earth had to begin from scratch or these molecules could have contaminated the earth from the beginning.