Abstract
We propose that a search for extra‐terrestrial life can be approached as a Search for Extra‐Terrestrial Homochirality—SETH. Homochirality is probably a pre‐condition for life, so a chiral influence may be required to get life started. We explain how the weak force mediated by the Z0 boson gives rise to a small parity‐violating energy difference (PVED) between enantiomers, and discuss how the resulting small excess of the more stable enantiomer may be amplified to homochirality. Titan and comets are good places to test for emerging pre‐biotic homochirality, while on Mars there may be traces of homochirality as a relic of extinct life. Our calculations of the PVED show that the natural L‐amino acids are indeed more stable than their enantiomers, as are several key D‐sugars and right‐hand helical DNA. Thiosubstituted DNA analogues show particularly large PVEDs. L‐quartz is also more stable than D‐quartz, and we believe that further crystal counts should be carried out to establish whether reported excesses o...
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