Scientists have discovered a new ‘building block’ of life in the form of formamide, a versatile small molecule. Formamide is a previously overlooked molecule that has been found to be a key component for the formation of a wide range of biologically relevant molecules. This discovery could lead to a greater understanding of the origins of life and new methods for creating life-like molecules in the lab.

The research team at the University of Cambridge found that formamide can be used to generate a wide range of small molecules, including those that are important to life. The researchers used a combination of computer simulations and laboratory experiments to show that formamide could be used as a starting point for the synthesis of several small molecules, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids. This new ‘building block’ could provide a great starting point for the creation of life-like molecules in the lab.

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source: Phys.org