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PCR-based analysis of microbial communities during the EuroGeoMars campaign at Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2011

Cora S. Thiel ,
Pascale Ehrenfreund ,
Bernard Foing ,
Vladimir Pletser  and
Oliver Ullrich
Cora S. Thiel*
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics,CeNTech, University of Muenster, Heisenbergstrasse 11, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Pascale Ehrenfreund
Affiliation:
Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, NL-2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
Bernard Foing
Affiliation:
Science and Robotic Exploration Directorate, European Space Agency, ESTEC, P.O. Box 299, NL-2200 AG, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Vladimir Pletser
Affiliation:
Human Space Flight Directorate, European Space Agency, ESTEC, P.O. Box 299, NL-2200 AG, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Oliver Ullrich
Affiliation:
Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
*
e-mail: cthiel@uni-muenster.de
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Abstract

The search for evidence of past or present life on Mars will require the detection of markers that indicate the presence of life. Because deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is found in all known living organisms, it is considered to be a ‘biosignature’ of life. The main function of DNA is the long-term storage of genetic information, which is passed on from generation to generation as hereditary material. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary technique which allows a single fragment or a small number of fragments of a DNA molecule to be amplified millions of times, making it possible to detect minimal traces of DNA. The compactness of the contemporary PCR instruments makes routine sample analysis possible with a minimum amount of laboratory space. Furthermore the technique is effective, robust and straightforward. Our goal was to establish a routine for the detection of DNA from micro-organisms using the PCR technique during the EuroGeoMars simulation campaign. This took place at the Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in February 2009 (organized with the support of the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), NASA Ames and the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)). During the MDRS simulation, we showed that it is possible to establish a minimal molecular biology lab in the habitat for the immediate on-site analysis of samples by PCR after sample collection. Soil and water samples were taken at different locations and soil depths. The sample analysis was started immediately after the crew returned to the habitat laboratory. DNA was isolated from micro-organisms and used as a template for PCR analysis of the highly conserved ribosomal DNA to identify representatives of the different groups of micro-organisms (bacteria, archaea and eukarya). The PCR products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis and documented by transillumination and digital imaging. The microbial diversity in the collected samples was analysed with respect to sampling depth and the presence or absence of vegetation. For the first time, we have demonstrated that it is possible to perform direct on-site DNA analysis by PCR at MDRS, a simulated planetary habitat in an extreme environment that serves as a model for preparation and optimization of techniques to be used for future Mars exploration.

Keywords

astrobiologylife detectionMars Desert Research Stationmicrobial communitiesPCR instrumentationribosomal DNA
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 10 , Special Issue 3: Special issue: Astrobiology field research in Moon/Mars analogue environments , July 2011 , pp. 177 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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