The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars
The success of an astrobiological search for life campaign on Mars, or other planetary bodies in the Solar System, relies on the detectability of past or present microbial life traces, namely, biosignatures. Spectroscopic methods require little or no sample preparation, can be repeated almost endles...
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2021
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oai:doaj.org-article:a8ddd93b691f45fb8fc3c4afa26677142021-11-25T18:11:15ZThe Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars10.3390/life111112122075-1729https://doaj.org/article/a8ddd93b691f45fb8fc3c4afa26677142021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/11/1212https://doaj.org/toc/2075-1729The success of an astrobiological search for life campaign on Mars, or other planetary bodies in the Solar System, relies on the detectability of past or present microbial life traces, namely, biosignatures. Spectroscopic methods require little or no sample preparation, can be repeated almost endlessly, and can be performed in contact or even remotely. Such methods are therefore ideally suited to use for the detection of biosignatures, which can be confirmed with supporting instrumentation. Here, we discuss the use of Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies for the detection and characterization of biosignatures from colonies of the fungus Cryomyces antarcticus, grown on Martian analogues and exposed to increasing doses of UV irradiation under dried conditions. The results report significant UV-induced DNA damage, but the non-exceeding of thresholds for allowing DNA amplification and detection, while the spectral properties of the fungal melanin remained unaltered, and pigment detection and identification was achieved via complementary analytical techniques. Finally, this work found that fungal cell wall compounds, likely chitin, were not degraded, and were still detectable even after high UV irradiation doses. The implications for the preservation and detection of biosignatures in extraterrestrial environments are discussed.Claudia PacelliAlessia CassaroIlaria CatanzaroMickael BaquéAlessandro MaturilliUte BöttgerElke RabbowJean-Pierre Paul de VeraSilvano OnofriMDPI AGarticlebiosignaturedark pigmentspolysaccharidespolychromatic radiationsimulated conditionsMarsScienceQENLife, Vol 11, Iss 1212, p 1212 (2021) |
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biosignature dark pigments polysaccharides polychromatic radiation simulated conditions Mars Science Q |
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biosignature dark pigments polysaccharides polychromatic radiation simulated conditions Mars Science Q Claudia Pacelli Alessia Cassaro Ilaria Catanzaro Mickael Baqué Alessandro Maturilli Ute Böttger Elke Rabbow Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera Silvano Onofri The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| description |
The success of an astrobiological search for life campaign on Mars, or other planetary bodies in the Solar System, relies on the detectability of past or present microbial life traces, namely, biosignatures. Spectroscopic methods require little or no sample preparation, can be repeated almost endlessly, and can be performed in contact or even remotely. Such methods are therefore ideally suited to use for the detection of biosignatures, which can be confirmed with supporting instrumentation. Here, we discuss the use of Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies for the detection and characterization of biosignatures from colonies of the fungus Cryomyces antarcticus, grown on Martian analogues and exposed to increasing doses of UV irradiation under dried conditions. The results report significant UV-induced DNA damage, but the non-exceeding of thresholds for allowing DNA amplification and detection, while the spectral properties of the fungal melanin remained unaltered, and pigment detection and identification was achieved via complementary analytical techniques. Finally, this work found that fungal cell wall compounds, likely chitin, were not degraded, and were still detectable even after high UV irradiation doses. The implications for the preservation and detection of biosignatures in extraterrestrial environments are discussed. |
| format |
article |
| author |
Claudia Pacelli Alessia Cassaro Ilaria Catanzaro Mickael Baqué Alessandro Maturilli Ute Böttger Elke Rabbow Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera Silvano Onofri |
| author_facet |
Claudia Pacelli Alessia Cassaro Ilaria Catanzaro Mickael Baqué Alessandro Maturilli Ute Böttger Elke Rabbow Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera Silvano Onofri |
| author_sort |
Claudia Pacelli |
| title |
The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| title_short |
The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| title_full |
The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| title_fullStr |
The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Ground-Based BIOMEX Experiment Verification Tests for Life Detection on Mars |
| title_sort |
ground-based biomex experiment verification tests for life detection on mars |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://doaj.org/article/a8ddd93b691f45fb8fc3c4afa2667714 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
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