We have characterized function related DNA sequences of various organisms using informatics techniques, including fractal dimension calculation, nucleotide and multi-nucleotide statistics, and sequence fluctuation analysis. Our analysis shows trends which differentiate extremophile from non-extremophile organisms, which could be reproduced in extraterrestrial life. Among the systems studied are radiation repair genes, genes involved in thermal shocks, and genes involved in drug resistance. We also evaluate sequence level changes that have occurred during short term evolution (several thousand generations) under extreme conditions.

Date Published: 28 August 2008
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 7097, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI, 70970Q (28 August 2008); doi: 10.1117/12.801269

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7097:
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI
Richard B. Hoover; Gilbert Victor Levin; Alexei Yu. Rozanov; Paul C.W. Davies, Editor(s)