Antarctic Lake Under 800 Meters of Ice Contains Life
Summary
On January 28, a team of glaciologists from Montana State University successfully drilled into a body of water 800 meters under the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf in Western Antarctica. The body of water, Lake Whillans, was reached with a hot water drill that does not pollute the environment, then samples of water and sediment were taken. When examined under a microscope, the samples were found to contain about 1000 bacteria per milliliter of water. Though this only one-tenth of the average amount of bacteria found in the ocean, it is amazing due to the extreme conditions they survive in. Other tests such as DNA sequencing will have to be preformed to learn more about these extremophiles. This discovery raises questions as to how the bacteria were able to get energy without light to preform photosynthesis. Also, it leads to the question, if there is life in a body of water 800 meters under ice on Earth, is it also possible on a different body in space, for example Europa, the moon of Jupiter.
Relevance
This article centers on the discovery of extremophiles in a lake deep under Antarctic ice; in a recent unit we studied various groups of microbes, including extremophiles, which live in conditions inhospitable to all other life. Environmentally friendly drilling practices used were also discussed; early in the year we learned about ecosystems, and how they can be harmed by human activity, something clearly avoided here. Lastly, the article mentions the lack of light and thus photosynthesis as an interesting problem solved by the bacteria, this relates to class because of our study of photosynthesis and how crucial it is to almost any community of organisms.
How does this discovory of marine microbes lead to possible microbes on terrestrial moons or planets?
ReplyDeleteIt is the discovery of marine microbes in an extreme environment resembling terrestrial moons or planets that suggests microbes could survive elsewhere in the solar system. If anaerobic bacteria can survive under 800 meters ice with very little to no light here on Earth, then why not theoretically on a different terrestrial body.
DeleteHas NASA or any other organization gotten to places in space, like Europa, to see if there is life there, and, if so, have they found any evidence of life there?
ReplyDeleteSo far the only landings on other bodies in space made by any organization have been on the moon and on Mars. The only promise of life has been that of past life on Mars; recently a Mars lander has found strong evidence of water, a key component to life, thus making the possibility of former life on Mars greater. Check out this site, www.nasa.gov/phoenix/
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