Scenario from pre-class: Initial analysis of the Mars sample reveals the presence of eukaryotic, unicellular life in a sample. Additional analysis indicates the presence of double-stranded nucleic acids similar, although not identical, to DNA found in eukaryotic organisms on Earth. The alien nucleic acids consist of two strands of nucleotides bonded together, with the sugar-phosphates on the outside of the structure. Six nitrogen bases located on the interior of the double-stranded nucleic acid are identified as: isoAdenine (iA), Uracil (U), isoCytosine (iC), isoThymine (iT), Adenine (A), and betaGuanine (bG). Data also suggests a complementary base-pairing between nitrogen bases of the two strands with the following base pairing rules:
iA complementary with U
iT complementary with A
bG complementary with iC
With great anticipation, your team conducts tests on the alien nucleic acids.
The most fundamental questions to be answered include:
A. Is the structure of the material similar to genetic systems of Earth?