Abstract EANA2024-7

The search for evidence of past or present life on other planetary bodies, such as Mars, remains a focal point of astrobiological research (Frances Westall et al., 2015). A promising avenue for investigation lies in studying insoluble organic matter (IOM) found in primitive meteorites, offering potential insights into the emergence of life in extraterrestrial environments (Marco d’Ischia et al., 2021). Carbonaceous chondrites, a type of primitive meteorite, contain a significant amount of IOM, around 70% (C.M.O’D. Alexander et al., 2017), in addition to soluble organic matter (SOM). Comprising a complex mixture of organic compounds resistant to chemical degradation, IOM may retain crucial information about its origin. The presence of IOM-like compounds on Mars could suggest similar processes of organic matter formation and preservation, potentially furnishing evidence for the emergence of life. However, distinguishing between the abiotic and biotic origins of IOM-like compounds presents a challenge, as they can arise from both biological and non-biological processes (Victor Abrahamsson & Isik Kanik, 2022). Assessing biogenicity requires consideration of factors such as distribution, abundance, molecular composition, and association with potential biosignatures. This research aims to address the challenge of distinguishing between abiotic and biotic origins of IOM-like compounds by investigating the synthetic production of IOM and its implications as a biosignature for the emergence of life. The experimental focus is on synthesizing IOM samples with diverse compositions using a systems chemistry approach. This approach involves controlling and manipulating chemical reactions and conditions to replicate natural processes that could lead to the formation of IOM-like compounds. The synthesized samples will undergo thorough characterization using various spectroscopic techniques, including infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. These techniques will provide detailed insights into the molecular structure and composition of the synthetic IOM samples. Subsequently, the collected spectroscopic data will be analyzed to identify potential biosignatures associated with the synthetic IOM. This analysis includes comparing the spectroscopic features of the synthetic samples with those of known biological and non-biological origins, as well as assessing their relevance in extraterrestrial contexts. The primary goal is to use this information to search for and interpret similar spectroscopic features on celestial bodies, such as Mars, to infer the presence of organic compounds and potentially the emergence of life.