
Proceedings Paper
Microbial extremophiles in evolutionary aspectFormat | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
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Paper Abstract
The microflora of the cryosphere of planet Earth provides the best analogs for life forms that might be found in the
permafrost or polar ice caps of Mars, near the surface of the cometary nuclei, or in the liquid water beneath the ice
crusts of icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. For astrobiology the focus on the study alkaliphilic microorganisms was
enhanced by the findings of abundant carbonates and carbonate globules rimmed with possibly biogenic magnetites in
association with the putative microfossils in the ALH84001 meteorite. Although the ALH84001 "nanofossils" were too
small and simple to be unambiguously recognized as biogenic, they stimulated Astrobiology research and studies of
microbial extremophiles and biomarkers in ancient rocks and meteorites. Recent studies of CI and CM carbonaceous
meteorites have resulted in the detection of the well-preserved mineralized remains of coccoidal and filamentous
microorganisms in cyanobacterial mats. Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis has shown anomalous biogenic element
ratios clearly indicating they are not recent biological contaminants.
This paper reviews microbial extremophiles in context of their significance to Astrobiology and the evolution of
life. Extremophilic microorganisms on Earth are models for life that might endure high radiation environments in the
ice near the surface of comets or on the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn and in the seafloor deep beneath the icy crusts
of Europa and Enceladus.
Paper Details
Date Published: 1 October 2007
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 6694, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X, 66941C (1 October 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.742289
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6694:
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X
Richard B. Hoover; Gilbert V. Levin; Alexei Y. Rozanov; Paul C. W. Davies, Editor(s)
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 6694, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X, 66941C (1 October 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.742289
Show Author Affiliations
Elena V. Pikuta, NASA Marshall Space Flight Ctr. (United States)
National Space Science and Technology Ctr. (United States)
National Space Science and Technology Ctr. (United States)
Richard B. Hoover, NASA Marshall Space Flight Ctr. (United States)
National Space Science and Technology Ctr. (United States)
National Space Science and Technology Ctr. (United States)
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6694:
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X
Richard B. Hoover; Gilbert V. Levin; Alexei Y. Rozanov; Paul C. W. Davies, Editor(s)
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