Organo-siliceous biomolecules and the infrared spectrum of the Trapezium nebula.

A close correspondence exists between the infrared properties of a mixed culture of diatoms and the infrared spectrum of dust in the Trapezium nebula. We argue that this correspondence points to a cosmic microbiological system in which organo-siliceous polymers are an abundant constituent. The high content of Si relative to Mg found in the Earth's crust and in Lunar and Martian surface material is readily explained on the basis of accretion of silicon-rich microbiology.