<p> Mindi Schwamle</p><p>Meteorites and Possible Life on Mars</p><p>Could meteorites have brought life to Mars? What chemicals could have been brought to </p><p>Mars from meteorites? What on Mars could react with these chemicals to form life? Is there evidence of possible life on Mars? These are just a few basic questions that need answers. </p><p>Carbon is the basic element for life. Since they are rich in carbon, carbonaceous chondrites would be the type of meteorites that are most likely to help develop life on Mars. The reason carbonaceous chondrites are so important is because they carry simple sugars and amino acids (Science@NASA, 2001). These are elements in DNA and RNA. Lifeforms on Earth use simple sugars for energy while amino acids are in their genes </p><p>Life on Earth might have started from chemicals introduced by meteorites as well. Some people think that carbonaceous chondrites may have started life here on our planet, which might help support the theory for Mars (Cooper, et al., 2001). The meteorite ALH84001 came from </p><p>Mars and because it has possible fossil evidence, it may also support the idea that Mars may have evolved life (Kaufmann and Freedman, 2001). </p><p>Carbon compounds could have reacted with the water that was on Mars in the past. </p><p>Evidence for massive amounts of water on the planet includes erosion on Mars’ surface. There may be water on Mars currently, but not for certain (Malin and Edgett, 2000). Therefore the possibility of life on Mars still exists.</p><p>References:</p><p>Cooper, G, et al. (2001). Carbonaceous meteorites as a source of sugar-related organic compounds for the early Earth. Nature, 414, pp. 879-883. Kaufmann, W., and Freedman, R. (2001). Universe, 6 th Edition. New York: W.H. Freeman and </p><p>Co. Pages 694-695.</p><p>Malin, M., and Edgett, K. (2000). Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars. Science, 288, pp. 2330-2335.</p><p>Science@NASA (2001). Sweet Meteorites. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast20dec_1.htm. December 20, 2001.</p>