Abstract
The utility of wet chemical reaction sequences, suitable for automation and telemetered control, as a means of detecting biopolymers is explored and its potential assessed with respect to extraterrestrial life detection. A variety of depolymerisation reagents and derivatisation are examined. Additionally, the importance of detecting carbon-either inorganic or organic — is discussed and the relevance of this approach to the detection and indentificaton or inorganic carbon via reactor head space analysis is discussed.
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Henderson, W., Kray, W.C. & Calvin, M. Chemical volatilization as a technique for the detection of extraterrestrial biopolymers and possible metabolic products. Space Life Sciences 4, 45–59 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02626341
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02626341