The discovery of both glycine and phosphorous in the coma orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gersimenko by the Rosetta spacecraft is rock-solid evidence comets seeded the Earth with the organic molecules that gave birth to life on this planet.

It also supports the theory of "panspermia" that says life exists and is being spread throughout the Universe by meteoroids, asteroids, comets, planetoids, and also by microorganisms on spacecraft.

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Scientists at the European Space Agency operating Rosetta have, for the first time, directly detected the amino acid glycine used by living organisms to make proteins, and other key organic compounds in comet 67P. They also announced that for the first time in a comet, the detection of phosphorous, an element present in all living organisms.

These results strengthen the theory comets delivered the chemical building blocks for life on Earth and are still doing so throughout the solar system and on other solar systems, as well.

ESA said Rosetta detected the glycine and phosporous in the coma or the cloud of gas and dust surrounding Comet 67P. The discovery implies that glycine is a common ingredient in parts of the universe where stars and planets have formed, said Rosetta scientist Kathrin Altwegg of the University of Bern in Switzerland, who led the research published in the journal Science Advances.

"Having found glycine in more than one comet shows that neither Wild 2 nor 67P are exceptions," said Altwegg. "Amino acids are everywhere, and life could possibly also start in many places in the universe."

University of Washington astronomer Donald Brownlee said meteorites and now comets prove the Earth has been seeded with many critical biomolecules over its entire history

"You need more than amino acids to form a living cell," Altwegg said. "It's the multitude of molecules which make up the ingredients for life." Rosetta is due to end its two-year mission at 67P by flying very close to the comet and then crash-land onto its surface this September.

Launched on March 2, 2004, Rosetta made a rendezvous with comet 67P on Aug. 6, 2014. On Nov. 12, the spacecraft's Philae lander performed the first successful landing on a comet.

TagsComet 67P/Churyumov-Gersimenko, rosetta spacecraft, glycine, phosphorous, european space agency