Methanogenic Microorganism Found Which Can Survive in Martian Environment

Methanogen Survival Following Exposure to Desiccation, Low Pressure and Martian Regolith Analogs

Authors:

1. Timothy A. Kral (a, b)
2. S.Travis Altheide (b)

Affiliations:

a. Dept. of Biological Sciences, SCEN-601, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA

b. Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, SCEN-601, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA

Abstract:

Any life existing in the martian environment must be able to deal with relatively extreme factors including desiccation, low pressure, and the presence of different martian regoliths. We have been studying methanogens, microorganisms in the domain Archaea, as models for life on Mars. Previously, we have examined methanogens in the presence of these three factors individually. Here, four methanogen species were tested for survival under the three conditions combined. Two of the methanogens survived desiccation at low pressure. One survived desiccation at low pressure on different martian regolith analogs.