Infrared Signatures of Prebiology - or Biology?

Abstract

AbstractData on infrared spectra of astronomical sources and on the unidentified infrared bands is reviewed and compared with a range of predictions from organic models of interstellar grains. The best fits to a wide range of data appear to require the widespread occurrence of functional groups distributed in exactly the proportions that characterise biosystems. The question of whether these agreements are consistent with extraterrestrial prebiology, or even cosmic biology is discussed.