Astrobiology” an introduction to an obscure field of research · “Astrobiology” an...
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“Astrobiology”an introduction to an obscure
field of research
Kai Finster
SAC & Bioscience
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How is Astrobiology defined?
Astro- or Exo- or Planetary-biology?
= study of the origin, evolution, adaptation
and distribution of past and present life in the universe
including Earth.
= encompasses anthropology, astronomy, astrophysics,
biochemistry, biology, chemistry, cosmology, genetics,
geology, palaeontology, planetary science (philosophy
and theology). Monica. M. Grady, Geology Today 19:99-103. 2003.
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Exploration along three lines
• In situ observations and experiments
• Study of Earth analogues
• Simulation experiments
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In situ experiments
• Mars classic: The Viking experiments
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Viking experiments
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ALH84001- rocky bio-signatures?
McKay et al,
1996
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ALH84001- rocky bio-signatures?
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ALH84001- rocky bio-signatures?
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Remote In situ observations
• Satellite observations: Mars-express
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“Follow the water”
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“Follow the water”
Boynton et al, 2002
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“Follow the water”
Phoenix - ice underneath the surface
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Trace gases in the atmosphere
• Methane on Mars - Why is that of interest?
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Methane on MARS
Methane data Earth Mars
Atmospheric
concentration
1750 ppbv 10 ppbv
Life time in the
atmosphere (years)
10 600
Production pr. year
to keep a constant
atmospheric
concentration (tons)
515 millioner 125
Sources Prokaryotes in
cattle, termits, rice
paddies; abiotic
chemical reactions
Prokaryotes?
Water-rock
reactions
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Methane in the Martian atmosphere
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Methane in the Martian atmosphere,
and where it could originate from,
and what the implications are.
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Study of Earth analogues
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Focus on Astro”micro”biology.
Astromicrobiologist search for life in the
universe by studying life/microbes on earth.
How is this justified?
We find environments on Earth that can be
regarded as Analogues to extraterrestrial
habitats. Such as Mars!
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What are analogues?
Definition: something that is similar to another thing.
Without being the thing.
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What is considered an
Analogue -and to what?
We usually have two extraterrestrial
habitats in mind-
1. Mars
2. Europa
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What is considered an
Analogue -and to what- some
examples ?
- Black smokers
- Deep biosphere
- Dry (cold) desserts
- Permafrost Soil
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Black Smokers
• High pressure
• High temperature
• Chemolithotrophic
microbes
• Ancient
phylogenetic
lineages
• Cradle of Life
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Deep Biosphere
• Survival for long
periods of time
• Low substrate
concentrations
• Chemolithotrophic
microbes
• No/little interference
with the surface
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Problems with the AnaloguesAnalogues are embedded in the complex eco-system
Earth
-> protecting atmosphere
-> high temperature
-> a lot of organic matter/oxygenic photosynthesis
-> oxygen
-> complex food webs
-> complex microbial communities everywhere
-> about 4 billion years of evolution and interactions
between the biotic and the abiotic world
-> etc.
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Simulation experiments
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Biological Marssimulations
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1950 - 59 1960 - 69 1970 - 79 1980 - 89 1990 - 99 2000 - 07
Time Intervals
Nu
mber
of
Exper
imen
ts
Prokarytic Cultures
Prokaryotic Communities
Organic Molecules
Eukaryotes
Virus
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Marssimulation facility at the University of Aarhus
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Table 1. Environmental conditions in the Mars simulation chamber and on the surface
of present-day Mars.
Parameter Sim.environment Present-day Marsa
Temperature range
(°C)b
-41 - +40 -123 - +25
Pressure range (mbar) 7.6 - 9.7 6.7 - 9.9c
UV radiation (nm) >200 >200
UV intensity at 239 nm
(W m-2 nm-1)
0.207 0.006d
Gas composition (%)
CO2 91.4 95.3
N2 4.8 2.7
Ar 2.8 1.6
O2 0.24 0.13
H2O 0.14 0.02
CO 0.16 0.07
Other 0.41 0.25
•aFrom Horneck .
•bAt the soil surface.
See Fig. 1.
•cFrom Tillman et al. .
•dAnnual average
intensity at 11.6° N
(Patel, M., Personal
communication).
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Our Approach
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Simulation experiments
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Concentrations of individual amino acids as
function of depth
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0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
0-1.5
1.5-3
3-6
6-9
9-15
15-21
21-27
27-33
Control
Dep
th (
mm
)
[DNA] (µg gdw -1
)
DNA concentrations as a function of depth
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Parameter Temperature
(ºC)
Pressure
(mbar)
UV radiation
(nm)
UV intensity dose Lamp Protection of
sample
Mars
half-life
(days)
Reference
DNA -41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars Hg-xenon,
135 W
Soil matrix
0 – 1.5 mm80 Present study
THAA -41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 135 Present study
Aspartate in
THAA
-41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 70 Present study
Arginine in
THAA
-41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 150 Present study
Glycine in
THAA
-41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 183 Present study
Cell numbera -41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 35 Present study
Viable cellsb -41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 46 Present study
CFU’sc 41 - 40 8 200 - 1000 35 times Mars See above See above 22 Present study
Glycine 21 ~10-7 190-325 1/12 of Mars Deuterium None 1.5 ten Kate et
al. 2006
Glycine 21 ~10-7 190-325 1/12 of Mars Deuterium None 1.5 See above
Glycine -63 7 190-325 1/12 of Mars Deuterium None 10 See above
Glycine 21 4 � 10-6 190-325 1/25 of Mars Deuterium None 0.9 ten Kate et
al. 2005
D-alanine 21 4 � 10-6 190-325 1/25 of Mars Deuterium None 0.1 ten Kate et
al. 2005
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Conclusions and hypotheses
• UV effect in H1
• Reactive compounds in H1 + H2
• Freeze-thaw cycles H1 - H5
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Exo-planets
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What do I consider being
“relevant Astro”micro”biological
research topics”?
• Simulation experiments, which include the information on the abiotic conditions obtained from space missions and exploration
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What do I consider being
“relevant Astro”micro”biological
research topics”?
• Simulation experiments, which include the information on the abiotic conditions
obtained from space missions and exploration
• De-contamination studies - planetary protection
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What do I consider being
“relevant Astro”micro”biological
research topics”?• Simulation experiments, which include the information on the abiotic conditions
obtained from space missions and exploration
• De-contamination studies - planetary protection
• Analogues with respect to exoplanets: Atmosphere composition, processes and signatures.