There is also an amino acid, glycine, in the atmosphere of Venus

Source: HW Upgrade added 21st Oct 2020

After having discovered the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus, a new study would also have identified an amino acid, glycine. A new clue on the possible presence of life or on the diffusion of its fundamental building blocks.

by Mattia Speroni published , at 08: 08 in the Science and Technology channel

NASA ESA

Having found phosphine in Venus atmosphere has created not a little (renewed) interest around the second planet of the Solar System. Now comes a second interesting news regarding the planet’s atmosphere and concerning another discovery.

According to a new study, in the atmosphere of Venus would have been found glycine (NH 2 CH 2 COOH), the simplest amino acid among the twenty ordinary ones. Despite the promising premise, the study will still have to go through the peer-review process and therefore its results are to be considered “preliminary” .

As we know, at the base of proteins there are amino acids and among these glycine is also present. In itself, however, it is obviously not confirmation of the presence of life on the planet. The glycine is a amino acid which was also found in other extreme conditions such as on the comet 67 P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Its (relative) abundance does not make one biosignature as is phosphine.

According to what reported, the amino acid was found in the area of ​​the equator and especially in the mid-latitudes of Venus (but not at the poles) at altitudes between 75 km and 80 km. If confirmed, it could mean the discovery of one of the “bricks” that allow the formation of complex structures but not necessarily life.

According to the study, glycine may have formed with reactions similar to those of the Miller-Urey Experiment or with a reaction between NH 3 (ammonia), CH 2 (methylene) and CO 2 (carbon dioxide).

The planet could therefore be considered not as a planet with life but rather a planet that is predisposed to generate biological macromolecules that could lead to life. And even if it were not present on Venus it could be useful to understand how life could have evolved in other exoplanets .