Molecular assembly Archives

Schematic overview of deploying MA as an agnostic biosignature. Proposed life detection missions in the Solar System can collect samples in situ and predict MA scores directly from MS data without the need for structural elucidation, which may be difficult for unknown molecules in extraterrestrial environments. Space missions that use MSn can estimate MA scores with the RecursiveMA algorithm (30). In the current paper, we show that space missions that use MS1 (and optionally MSn) can infer MA scores with ML. -- PNAS

Molecular Assembly As A Universal Biosignature Measurable By Mass Spectrometry

by Keith CowingAugust 13, 2026August 13, 2026

[PNAS] Detecting life beyond Earth requires biosignatures that do not depend on the chemistry of known organisms.

Molecular complexity growth rate per bond count between PubChem and COCONUT 2.0 molecules. Mean (solid line) and standard deviation (shaded area) of complexity scores per bond count between PubChem molecules in blue (n ≈ 100,000,000) and COCONUT 2.0 molecules in green (n ≈ 525,000) for a, Bertz, b, Böttcher, and c, MA. d, The databases had similar distribution of bond counts in their molecules. -- cs.LG

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report

Exploring Molecular Assembly As A Biosignature Using Mass Spectrometry And Machine Learning

by Keith CowingAugust 4, 2025August 4, 2025

Molecular assembly offers a promising path to detect life beyond Earth, while minimizing assumptions based on terrestrial life.

Graphical abstract -- Université de Montréal

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

How Life Appeared: Rise Of The Nanomachines

by Keith CowingFebruary 9, 2024February 9, 2024

Molecular assembly can be designed by fusing binding domains. A precise optimization of the level of compaction of the assembly using linker of different lengths or compositions can provide a […]

Molecular assembly

Molecular Assembly As A Universal Biosignature Measurable By Mass Spectrometry

Exploring Molecular Assembly As A Biosignature Using Mass Spectrometry And Machine Learning

How Life Appeared: Rise Of The Nanomachines

NASA SMD ROSES-25 Amendment 68: New Opportunity: D.8 Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations [UPDATE 2]

RED26 Astrobiology Lectures Are Now Online

The Refractory Fraction Of Phosphorus In Planet-forming Discs

Atmosphere Detected On The Coldest Lava World To Date

Thermal Anomaly Discovered Below Mars’s South Pole