Life in the sabkha: Raman spectroscopy of halotrophic extremophiles of relevance to planetary exploration |
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Authors: | Howell G M Edwards Mahmood A Mohsin Fadhil N Sadooni Nik F Nik Hassan Tasnim Munshi |
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Institution: | (1) Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK;(2) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates;(3) Department of Geology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates |
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Abstract: | The Raman spectroscopic biosignatures of halotrophic cyanobacterial extremophiles from sabkha evaporitic saltpans are reported for the first time and ideas about the possible survival strategies in operation have been
forthcoming. The biochemicals produced by the cyanobacteria which colonise the interfaces between large plates of clear selenitic
gypsum, halite, and dolomitized calcium carbonates in the centre of the salt pans are identifiably different from those which
are produced by benthic cyanobacterial mats colonising the surface of the salt pan edges in the intertidal zone. The prediction
that similar geological formations would have been present on early Mars and which could now be underlying the highly peroxidised
regolith on the surface of the planet has been confirmed by recent satellite observations from Mars orbit and by localised
traverses by robotic surface rovers. The successful adoption of miniaturised Raman spectroscopic instrumentation as part of
a scientific package for detection of extant life or biomolecular traces of extinct life on proposed future Mars missions
will depend critically on interpretation of data from terrestrial Mars analogues such as sabkhas, of which the current study is an example. |
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Keywords: | Raman spectroscopy Sabkha Evaporites Halotrophs Extremophiles Cyanobacteria |
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