A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice
We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectr...
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Mary Ann Liebert
2017
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ftunivbern:oai:boris.unibe.ch:105625 2023-08-20T04:07:07+02:00 A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice Managadze, G.G. Safronova, A.A. Luchnikov, K.A. Vorobyova, E.A. Duxbury, N.S. Wurz, Peter Managadze, N.G. Chumikov, A.E. Khamizov, R.Kh. 2017 application/pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/1/ast.2016.1511.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/ eng eng Mary Ann Liebert https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/ info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Managadze, G.G.; Safronova, A.A.; Luchnikov, K.A.; Vorobyova, E.A.; Duxbury, N.S.; Wurz, Peter; Managadze, N.G.; Chumikov, A.E.; Khamizov, R.Kh. (2017). A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice. Astrobiology, 17(5), pp. 448-458. Mary Ann Liebert 10.1089/ast.2016.1511 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1511> 520 Astronomy info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion PeerReviewed 2017 ftunivbern https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1511 2023-07-31T21:37:51Z We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectron (TOF LMR) and the sample preparation unit (SPU) for biomass extraction. This instrument was initially approved to fly on board the ExoMars 2020 lander mission. The instrument can be used to analyze the elemental composition of possible extraterrestrial microbial communities and compare it to that of terrestrial microorganisms. We have conducted numerous laboratory studies to confirm the possibility of biomass identification via the following biomarkers: P/S and Ca/K ratios, and C and N abundances. We underline that only the combination of these factors will allow one to discriminate microbial samples from geological ones. Our technique has been tested experimentally in numerous laboratory trials on cultures of microorganisms and polar permafrost samples as terrestrial analogues for martian polar soils. We discuss various methods of extracting microorganisms and sample preparation. The developed technique can be used to search for and identify microorganisms in different martian samples and in the subsurface of other planets, satellites, comets, and asteroids—in particular, Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) Ganymede ENVELOPE(-68.477,-68.477,-70.857,-70.857) Astrobiology 17 5 448 458 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivbern |
language |
English |
topic |
520 Astronomy |
spellingShingle |
520 Astronomy Managadze, G.G. Safronova, A.A. Luchnikov, K.A. Vorobyova, E.A. Duxbury, N.S. Wurz, Peter Managadze, N.G. Chumikov, A.E. Khamizov, R.Kh. A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
topic_facet |
520 Astronomy |
description |
We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectron (TOF LMR) and the sample preparation unit (SPU) for biomass extraction. This instrument was initially approved to fly on board the ExoMars 2020 lander mission. The instrument can be used to analyze the elemental composition of possible extraterrestrial microbial communities and compare it to that of terrestrial microorganisms. We have conducted numerous laboratory studies to confirm the possibility of biomass identification via the following biomarkers: P/S and Ca/K ratios, and C and N abundances. We underline that only the combination of these factors will allow one to discriminate microbial samples from geological ones. Our technique has been tested experimentally in numerous laboratory trials on cultures of microorganisms and polar permafrost samples as terrestrial analogues for martian polar soils. We discuss various methods of extracting microorganisms and sample preparation. The developed technique can be used to search for and identify microorganisms in different martian samples and in the subsurface of other planets, satellites, comets, and asteroids—in particular, Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Managadze, G.G. Safronova, A.A. Luchnikov, K.A. Vorobyova, E.A. Duxbury, N.S. Wurz, Peter Managadze, N.G. Chumikov, A.E. Khamizov, R.Kh. |
author_facet |
Managadze, G.G. Safronova, A.A. Luchnikov, K.A. Vorobyova, E.A. Duxbury, N.S. Wurz, Peter Managadze, N.G. Chumikov, A.E. Khamizov, R.Kh. |
author_sort |
Managadze, G.G. |
title |
A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
title_short |
A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
title_full |
A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
title_fullStr |
A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
title_full_unstemmed |
A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice |
title_sort |
new method and mass-spectrometric instrument for extraterrestrial microbial life detection using the elemental composition analyses of martian regolith and permafrost/ice |
publisher |
Mary Ann Liebert |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/1/ast.2016.1511.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-68.477,-68.477,-70.857,-70.857) |
geographic |
Ganymede |
geographic_facet |
Ganymede |
genre |
Ice permafrost |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost |
op_source |
Managadze, G.G.; Safronova, A.A.; Luchnikov, K.A.; Vorobyova, E.A.; Duxbury, N.S.; Wurz, Peter; Managadze, N.G.; Chumikov, A.E.; Khamizov, R.Kh. (2017). A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice. Astrobiology, 17(5), pp. 448-458. Mary Ann Liebert 10.1089/ast.2016.1511 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1511> |
op_relation |
https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/ |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1511 |
container_title |
Astrobiology |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
448 |
op_container_end_page |
458 |
_version_ |
1774718572855033856 |