Figure 5.

Illustration of α-amino acid synthesis routes that could have taken place in meteorite parent bodies. (a) The Strecker-cyanohydrin pathway relies on the reaction of aldehydes or ketones with ammonia, cyanide and water to produce amino acids. (b) Reductive amination reactions involve the reaction of α-keto acids with ammonia and a reductant in the meteorite parent body to produce amino acids.