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Terahertz Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy: A Potential Approach to the In Situ Detection of Life's Metabolic and Genetic Machinery
2003
Astrobiology
We propose a terahertz (far-infrared) circular dichroism-based life-detection technology that may provide a universal and unequivocal spectroscopic signature of living systems regardless of their genesis. We argue that, irrespective of the specifics of their chemistry, all life forms will employ well-structured, chiral, stereochemically pure macromolecules (Ͼ500 atoms) as the catalysts with which they perform their metabolic and replicative functions. We also argue that nearly all such
doi:10.1089/153110703322610609
pmid:14678660
fatcat:vzz2rmoo5vhctifqqaslr4smda