DUST IN THE UNIVERSE - IMPLICATIONS FOR TERRESTRIAL PREBIOTIC CHEMISTRY

In the present review we analyze the available literature on the distr ibution of dust in the Universe, methods of its observation and determ ination of the chemical composition, and the roles for terrestrial pre biotic chemistry. The most plausible natural sources of dust on the Ea rth in the prebiotic era are sedimentation of interplanetary dust, met eoritic and cometary impacts, volcanic eruptions, and soil micropartic ulates; the interplanetary medium being among the most powerful suppli er of the dust matter. Two fundamental roles of dust particles for the origins of life are considered: (1) catalytic formation of prebiotic compounds; and (2) delivery of organic matter to the Earth by space du st particles. Due to the fact that there is only approximate informati on on the chemical composition and properties of interstellar, circums tellar, and major part of interplanetary dust, even the simulating exp eriments are difficult to perform. Until these gaps are filled, it see ms reasonable to focus efforts of the scientists dealing with dust-dri ven catalytic formation of prebiotically important compounds on the vo lcanic and meteoritic/cometary impact environments.