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Survival of Cyanobacteria on Meteorite Nutrients in Space: Implications for Panspermia Theory

Explore the viability of cyanobacteria from Earth surviving on meteorite nutrients in space to support the panspermia theory of life spreading among extraterrestrial bodies. Research methodology and results indicate possibilities for life beyond Earth, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding the origin of life.

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Survival of Cyanobacteria on Meteorite Nutrients in Space: Implications for Panspermia Theory

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  1. Growth of Cyanobacteria on Extraterrestrial Materials Tyler Jenss

  2. Panspermia • Panspermia is the spread of life to/between extraterrestrial bodies by means of other extraterrestrial bodies (such as meteorites). • Some scientists believe that a process like this is how life came to be on Earth. • Theory is supported by the lack of organic materials on early Earth. http://d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/asteroid_earth_impact.jpg

  3. Vocabulary • Cyanobacteria- Single celled “blue-green algae” which are the earliest known organisms on Earth. • Carbonaceous chondrites- Meteorites containing carbon and other organic elements (oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen). • Murchison C2 meteorite- Example of a carbonaceous chondrite that was used in this study. • Extremophile- An organism capable of surviving in extreme environments.

  4. How it works:

  5. Review of Literature • Moore’s Law was originally a theory applied to the complexity of computer transistors over time. • In 2009 Sharov applied this law to the complexity of chromosomes over the span of Earth’s history, and applied a line of best fit.

  6. Moore’s Law http://www.technologyreview.com/view/513781/moores-law-and-the-origin-of-life/

  7. Review of Literature • In 2009, Richard Hoover discovered microfossils on the Orguel C11 carbonaceous chodrite. http://modernsurvivalblog.com

  8. Review of Literature • In 2010, cyanobacteria were collected from cliffs in Great Britain, and sent to space aboard the space shuttle to be fully exposed to the void of space. After full exposure and adequate time to multiply, certain strands of cyanobacteria were capable of surviving in space. (Olsen-Francis, et al.)

  9. Purpose: To determine if life can survive on extraterrestrial bodies by living off of the nutrients from meteorite extracts.

  10. Methodology Algae was collected from the Hudson River by the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, NJ and put into an environmental chamber to grow.

  11. Methodology – Part A 2 grams of this algae were put into the following solutions: • BG-11 growth media • Murchison meteorite simulating solution (5 & 10 times diluted) • Murchison meteorite simulating solution with phosphate (5 & 10 times diluted) • DI Water (Control) NaNo3 (1.5g) K2HPO4 (0.04g) MgSO4 x 7H2O (0.075g) CaCl2 x 2H2O (0.03G) Citric Acid (0.006g) Ferric Ammonium Nitrate (0.006g) NaCO3 (0.02g) DI water (1L) CaSO4 x 2H2O (6.01g) MgSO4 x 2H2O (17.24g) NaCl (4.83g) KCl (2.10g) MnSO4 (0.34g) FeCl2 (0.20g) NiCl3 (2.21g) NaNO3 (0.73g) Na3PO4 (0.22g) DI water (1L)

  12. Methodology – Part B • For part B, the same nutrient solutions were used, but this time three types of cyanobacteria obtained from the University of Texas were used. These include: • Gleocapsa (EE 3), a salt tolerant cyanobacteria. • Nostoc Sp. (EE 1095), a cold-resistant cyanobacteria found in Antarctica. • Synechococcus Elongate Nageli (ATCC 33912)

  13. Methodology – Part B • These samples were grown in a modified refrigerator with a full spectrum of solar radiation at approximately 3˚C.

  14. Methodology Cell Counting: • Cells were put on a hemacytometer under a microscope to count the cells. • Cells were counted per 1mm block. • Process was completed twice for each solution and an average was found. http://www.nexcelom.com/images/

  15. Part A Results

  16. PartB Results - EE 3

  17. PartB Results - EE 1095

  18. PartB Results - ATCC 33912

  19. Part B Statistics < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001

  20. Discussion • Growth of simple organisms on the nutrients found in meteorites is plausible. • Growth of these organisms in space-like conditions is possible, according to the findings of Olsson-Francis et al., in 2010.

  21. Conclusion • Further studies would determine more about the reactions of organisms to prolonged suspended animation in space. • More research would also need to be done on the effects of impacts and reentry on organisms.

  22. Conclusion • Through collaboration between astronomers, biologists, and space programs, scientists may be able to better understand how life on Earth originated.

  23. Acknowledgments • Thank you to my mentors, Dr. Michael Mautner and Dr. Kristopher Baker. • Special thanks to my parents and science research teachers, Ms. Kleinman, Ms. O’Hagan, and Ms. Foisy.

  24. Bibliography • Mautner, M. N. (2004). Seeding the Universe with Life: Securing our Cosmological Future, Galactic Ecology, Astroethics and Directed Panspermia. Christchurch, N.Z.: Legacy Books. • Mautner, M. (1997). Biological Potential of Extraterrestrial Materials. Icarus, 129(1), 245-253. • Joseph, R., & Schild, R. (2010). Biological Cosmology and the Origin of Life in the Universe. Journal of Cosmology, 5, 1040-1090. • Sharov, A. (2009). Life before Earth. ArVix, 1, 1-26. • Olsson-Francis, K., la Torre, R. d., & Cockell, C. S. (2010). Isolation Of Novel Extreme-Tolerant Cyanobacteria From A Rock-Dwelling Microbial Community By Using Exposure To Low Earth Orbit. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76(7), 2115-2121. • Joseph, Rhawn. "The Origins of Life" Journal of Cosmology 13 (2011): 2-3. Print. • Hoover, Richard B. “Fossils of Cyanobacteria in CI1 Carbonaceous Meteorites" Journal of Cosmology 13 (2011): Print. • Yang, Y., Yokobori, S., & Yamagishi, A. (2009). Assessing Panspermia Hypothesis by Microorganisms Collected from the High Altitude Atmosphere. Biological Sciences in Space, 23.3, 151-163.

  25. Growth of Cyanobacteria on Extraterrestrial Materials Tyler Jenss

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