Taking their cue from nature, where structurally well - defined biopolymers are the norm, e.g. in DNA and genes where slight variations to the order
of a small number
of organic molecules gives rise to the diverse spectrum
of life, they have developed a self - sorting strategy that regulates the order molecules take when forming long
chain polymers.
The researchers found that the types
of organic compounds found in microbial and algal
life — long
chain hydrocarbon - dominated matter - were destroyed by the pressures
of impact.