Ancient enzyme resurrection offers new insights into early Earth and extraterrestrial life

Researchers resurrected a 3.2-billion-year-old enzyme, offering a new method to study early Earth life and search for extraterrestrial life. The study used synthetic biology to reconstruct ancient nitrogenase enzymes within modern microbes, providing insights into how early life utilized nitrogen and potentially leaving recognizable isotopic signatures in rocks. This breakthrough aids astrobiology by establishing a reliable biosignature for identifying life on other planets, enhancing the understanding of life's origins and evolution.