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Growth of Methanogens on Basalt and Clay: Implications about life on Mars Edgar Siyakurima

Growth of Methanogens on Basalt and Clay: Implications about life on Mars Edgar Siyakurima Wiley College Marshall, TX esiyakurima@wileyc.edu 903-472-2588 Travis Altheide Dr. Tim Kral Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR. The Viking Mars Landing

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Growth of Methanogens on Basalt and Clay: Implications about life on Mars Edgar Siyakurima

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  1. Growth of Methanogens on Basalt and Clay: Implications about life on Mars Edgar Siyakurima Wiley College Marshall, TX esiyakurima@wileyc.edu 903-472-2588 Travis Altheide Dr. Tim Kral Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR The Viking Mars Landing July 20, 1976 11:53:56 The Mars Express Orbiter March 2004

  2. Research Summary -Definition of methanogens -Places of habitat for methanogens on Earth -Previous research with methanogens -Objectives of the research -Laboratory experiment procedure -Methane gas chromatography results -Discussion of results and conclusion

  3. Methanogens • Methane producing anaerobic archaea • Metabolic process: CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H20 • Thrive in: peat bogs muddy-lakes and swamps and wetlands ocean floor vents desert soils guts of animals

  4. Microscopic Views Of Various Methanogens

  5. Previous Research -methanogens grow on Mars soil simulant -they failed to grow in crushed basalt -methanogens survive in arid areas -the archea metabolized significantly at different pressures in the Andromeda chamber -can go up to 25 days without water

  6. Our Research Objectives: -expanding on previous methanogens-in-basalt reseach -experimenting with a new substrate - clay

  7. Research Procedure Outline -grow stock cultures of methanogens in suitable media -wash-off media several times using buffer -transfer ‘clean media-free’ methanogens into buffer -expose substrates (clay, basalt, glass beads and Mars soil simulant) and methanogens to CO2 in anaerobic chamber and then autoclave -inoculate methanogens-in-buffer into substrates -pressurize with hydrogen gas and then incubate at ideal optimum temperatures for each organism -take gas chromatography readings periodically for methane -transfer organisms showing stable and significant values into fresh substrates

  8. Pictorial Representation of Procedure

  9. Research Procedure M. Wolfeii 54-56oC Substrates Basalt Mars Soil Simulant Glass Beads Clay M. Formicicum 37oC Controls M. Barkeri 37oC

  10. Gas Chromatography Readings

  11. Observations, Discussion and Conclusion -Control results showed considerable adequacy in procedure -water absorption by clay may have affected results -use of a more sensitive gas chromatography later in the laboratory experiment also affected results -no concrete conclusions can be reached -more observation time required

  12. References -Kral, Tim A, Bekkum, Curtis R., Mckay,Christopher P.,2004, Growth of Methanogens on Mars soil simulant, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere 34, 615-626. -Oliver, Heaven A., 2003. A Comparison of Methanogenic Growth on Various Soil Substrates. Masters Thesis.

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