Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites contain vital clues to the
evolution of carbon compounds in our solar system preceding the
origin of life. Adapted from an Arizona State University press
release Scientists have conducted an organic analysis of the
Tagish Lake meteorite, a rare, carbon-rich meteorite classified
as a carbonaceous chondrite. The meteorite fell on a frozen
Canadian lake in January 2000, and is the most pristine
carbonaceous chondrite specimen ever studied. The analysis
suggests there can be a different outcome for the evolution of
organic chemicals in space than from what has been observed in
other carbonaceous meteorites. This difference could be due to
the possibility that the Tagish Lake meteorite contains carbon
molecules that may have accumulated during the formation and
development of the solar system. Carbonaceous chondrite
meteorites contain vital clues to the evolution of carbon
compounds in our solar system. For example, the Murchison
meteorite, a carbonaceous chondrite found in Austra