Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Comets and the Formation of Biochemical Compounds on the Primitive Earth

Nature volume 190, pages 389–390 (1961)Cite this article

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Urey, H., Nature, 179, 556 (1957).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fensenkov, V. G., Sci. Amer., 204, No. 1, 180 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Whipple, F. L., Nature, 189, 127 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Page, T., Science, 132, 1870 (1960).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Swings, P., and Haser, L., Atlas of Representative Cometary Spectra (University of Liège, Astrophysical Institute, Louvain).

  6. Bankama, K., Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec., Paper 62, 651 (1955).

  7. Turekian, K. K., in Preprints of the International Oceanographic Congress, 81 (Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Washington, D.C., 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gilvarry, J. J., Nature, 188, 886 (1960).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kiess, N. H., and Bass, A. M., J. Chem. Phys., 22, 569 (1954).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Plooster, M. N., and Reed, T. B., J. Chem. Phys., 31, 66 (1959).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sherwood, T. K., Gilliland, E. R., and Ing, S. W., Indust. Eng. Chem., 52, 601 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chupka, H. A., and Inghram, M. G., Chem. Eng. News, 37, 36 (Aug. 17, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Nininger, H. H., Chips from the Moon (Desert Press, El Centro, California, 1947).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Öpik, E. J., Irish Astron. J., 4, 84 (1956).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. O'Keefe, J. A., Science, 133, 562 (1961).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Haser, L., C.R. Acad. Sci., 241, 742 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Donn, B., and Urey, H. C., Astrophys. J., 123, 339 (1956).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Whipple, F. L., Astrophys. J., 111, 375 (1950).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Glasel, J. A., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 47, 174 (1961).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Oró, J., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 2, 407 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Oró, J., and Kimball, A. P., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. (in the press).

  22. Oró, J., and Kimball, A. P., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. (in the press).

  23. Oró, J., and Kamat, S. S., Nature (see p. 442 of this issue).

  24. Oró, J., Kimball, A., Fritz, R., and Master, F., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 85, 115 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Master, F., master's thesis, University of Houston (1957).

  26. Fritz, R., master's thesis, University of Houston (1960).

  27. von Mayer, R., and Jaschke, L., Ann., 635, 145 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Oró, J., and Cox, A. C. (unpublished experiments).

  29. Oró, J., and Guidry, C. L., Nature, 186, 156 (1960).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Oró, J., and Guidry, C. L., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. (in the press).

  31. Grossman, F., Cristopher, J., and Canavan, G., in Proc. Nat. Sci. Found. Summer Inst. for High School Juniors, 8 (University of Houston, 1960).

  32. Oró, J., Fed. Proc., 20, 352 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Oró, J., in Proc. Fifth Intern. Gong. Biochem. (Moscow, in the press).

  34. Oparin, A. I., The Origin of Life on the Earth (Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Urey, H. C., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 38, 35 (1952).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Miller, S. L., and Urey, H. C., Science, 130, 245 (1959).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Russell, H. N., and Menzel, D. H., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 19, 997 (1933).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Brown, H., in The Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets, Kuiper, G. P., edit., 260 (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1949).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Suess, H. E., J. Geol., 57, 600 (1949).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Latimer, W. M., Science, 112, 101 (1950).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Rubey, W. W., Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec., Paper 62, 631 (1955); Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 62, 1111 (1951).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Wilson, J. T., Nature, 179, 228 (1957).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Urey, H. C., The Planets (Yale University Press, New Haven Conn., 1952).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Huang, S. S., Amer. Sci., 47, 397 (1959).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

    J. ORÓ

Authors
  1. J. ORÓ
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ORÓ, J. Comets and the Formation of Biochemical Compounds on the Primitive Earth. Nature 190, 389–390 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/190389a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/190389a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing