Question

Several lines of evidence suggest that Mars once was habitable, and the Panspermia hypothesis states that life originated on Earth when it came from Mars on a meteorite. Imagine you are the lucky chief biologist on the first mission to Mars and discover what appear to be fossilized cells. You dutifully perform chemical analysis of the fossil. Which of the following would suggest that these were NOT, in fact, fossilized cells but non-organic structures?

		Absence of (cellular) nuclei
		Existence of RNA monomers but not DNA
		The presence of equal quantities of L- and D- amino acids.
		An organized, regular appearance

Answer 1

The evidence which tells that these were not fossilized but in fact non-organic structures is the presence of equal quantities of L-and D-amino acids

It is because living cells contain only L-form of amino acids. The D-amino acids are very rarely found and are not coded by RNA. Therefore equal quantities of L and D amino acids could not be present in the fossilized cells and therefore indicate that they were non-organic structures.

So, the correct option is (C).

Hope it helps, Good luck !!!!
Please do press like :)