NASA: "Astrobiology"

[twitchyzero]

NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth.

Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components.

"The definition of life has just expanded," said Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. "As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it."

This finding of an alternative biochemistry makeup will alter biology textbooks and expand the scope of the search for life beyond Earth. The research is published in this week's edition of Science Express.

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur are the six basic building blocks of all known forms of life on Earth. Phosphorus is part of the chemical backbone of DNA and RNA, the structures that carry genetic instructions for life, and is considered an essential element for all living cells.

Phosphorus is a central component of the energy-carrying molecule in all cells (adenosine triphosphate) and also the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. Arsenic, which is chemically similar to phosphorus, is poisonous for most life on Earth. Arsenic disrupts metabolic pathways because chemically it behaves similarly to phosphate.

"We know that some microbes can breathe arsenic, but what we've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic," said Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a NASA Astrobiology Research Fellow in residence at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., and the research team's lead scientist. "If something here on Earth can do something so unexpected, what else can life do that we haven't seen yet?"

The newly discovered microbe, strain GFAJ-1, is a member of a common group of bacteria, the Gammaproteobacteria. In the laboratory, the researchers successfully grew microbes from the lake on a diet that was very lean on phosphorus, but included generous helpings of arsenic. When researchers removed the phosphorus and replaced it with arsenic the microbes continued to grow. Subsequent analyses indicated that the arsenic was being used to produce the building blocks of new GFAJ-1 cells.

The key issue the researchers investigated was when the microbe was grown on arsenic did the arsenic actually became incorporated into the organisms' vital biochemical machinery, such as DNA, proteins and the cell membranes. A variety of sophisticated laboratory techniques was used to determine where the arsenic was incorporated.

The team chose to explore Mono Lake because of its unusual chemistry, especially its high salinity, high alkalinity, and high levels of arsenic. This chemistry is in part a result of Mono Lake's isolation from its sources of fresh water for 50 years.

The results of this study will inform ongoing research in many areas, including the study of Earth's evolution, organic chemistry, biogeochemical cycles, disease mitigation and Earth system research. These findings also will open up new frontiers in microbiology and other areas of research.

"The idea of alternative biochemistries for life is common in science fiction," said Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "Until now a life form using arsenic as a building block was only theoretical, but now we know such life exists in Mono Lake."

The research team included scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Penn., and the Stanford Synchroton Radiation Lightsource in Menlo Park, Calif.

NASA's Astrobiology Program in Washington contributed funding for the research through its Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology program and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. NASA's Astrobiology Program supports research into the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/..._chemical.html

[LiquidTurbo]

I'll wait to hear what they have to say, till then I reserve judgment. Douchebag skeptics all over it without even know what exact finding they are going to release.

[The_AK]

this should be interesting

[MindBomber]

Lets be realistic, out of billions upon billions of satellites in our universe and others what are the chances Earth is the only one with something other rocks on it.

We're special and rare, but I doubt we're unique.

Looking forward to hearing the announcement.

[twitchyzero]

im surprised no news outlet has caught it yet...i guess they just wanna wait for more information.

[El Bastardo]

The truth is out there, Scully.

[ToneCapone]

for those who are truly interested: http://grasptheuniverse.com/

[Eatman]

wow, i'm actually anxious to see what they reveal

[tegz]

Definitely exciting stuff. I want to believe that this "evidence" of new life isn't actually alien species or anything, perhaps the beginnings of a possibility of life, like earth was 3.5 billion years ago.. filled with certain gases that could promote the spontaneous formation of an extra and intra environment...

Otherwise we have a big problem on our hands... alien invasion!!!

[rsx]

I bet it's an equipment they're launching into space...I sure hope it's an alien life though.

[Jsunu]

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something

[vitaminG]

Originally Posted by Jsunu

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something

bacteria would be new life

[twitchyzero]

even if it's amoeba-like critters it will be very interesting..anything that can model how life was formed on earth would be great.

[LiquidTurbo]

I believe I had read somewhere that based on the worst case scenarios for running simulations on randomized planets, there would one over 25,000 planets in the known universe that have the exact same life sustaining conditions as earth. Using the worst possible cases.
Posted via RS Mobile

[fsy82]

interesting

[murd0c]

Here is NASA TV where the press conference will be streamed on

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

and the actual link from NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010...robiology.html

[tegz]

Originally Posted by Jsunu

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something

Bacteria would be a pretty big deal LOL

[TomBox_N]

On the other hand , given how big the universe is, what r the chances of the aliens finding us.
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[murd0c]

I wonder if it's because a super secret robotic spaceship is landing this weekend...It could of been launched 7 months ago which was built by Phantom Works a part of Boeing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37

and I can promise it's not what they say it is for

[CanadaGoose]

Originally Posted by TomBox_N

On the other hand , given how big the universe is, what r the chances of the aliens finding us.
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Or maybe they've already found us... but looked down on us for being so feeble, unorganized, and primitive they just kept driving by - just like how you might glance down at an ant hill, but keep on walking? Ever think about that? Dun dun duuun!!! hahah

[Nightwalker]

Originally Posted by LiquidTurbo

I believe I had read somewhere that based on the worst case scenarios for running simulations on randomized planets, there would one over 25,000 planets in the known universe that have the exact same life sustaining conditions as earth. Using the worst possible cases.
Posted via RS Mobile

That number might now be trillions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11888362

[MindBomber]

The aliens are monitoring our progress as a society, and waiting until we can interact peacefully amongst ourselves before introducing another variable. Seriously, if you were a member of an advanced civilization would you want a part of this shit?

[twitchyzero]

Originally Posted by murd0c

Here is NASA TV where the press conference will be streamed on

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

and the actual link from NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010...robiology.html

added to intial post.

[StylinRed]

wasnt there talk of an asteroid or something with the potential for life on it or something... or was that a dream oO

and didnt they supposedly find specimens before but they weren't sure if it was the result of contamination on Earth

[Ch28]

I for one welcome our new alien overlords.