Determination of spectral signatures of biomolecules essentials to life

• Grant number: 14/10200-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Janot Pacheco
• Grantee: Marina Gomes Rachid
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this work is the search for transitions common to complex organic molecules that play important roles in terrestrial life, such as DNA nucleobases. Initially, we will need to search for the chemical structures common to all members of each molecular families. Then, it will be identified from the literature (including handbooks), the transition values for these selected molecular structures. These transitions will be incorporated in hypothesis article in the journal "Astrobiology", proposing a new search strategy for biomolecules beyond Earth. This work is part of project BEEST (Biomolecules on Earth and Exoplanets through Spectroscopic Transitions), international cooperation involving the University of São Paulo, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Military Institute of Engineering (MD) and the Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis (France).