Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.5708s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #57.08
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
A key goal for Astrobiology is the search for evidence of life on Mars. Because liquid water is a fundamental environmental requirement for life, the recent set of missions to Mars has focused on a strategy known as "follow the water.” Since life is made of organic molecules, a logical next step is "follow the organics.” However, organics are expected to be present at very low levels on Mars making their detection challenging. As life produces biominerals, an alternative approach is "follow the minerals.” Carbonates are important biominerals that are produced by two distinct processes: "biologically controlled" and "biologically induced" mineralization in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, respectively. Previous differential thermal studies have shown that calcites and aragonites produced by eukaryotes decompose 15°C below their abiotic counterparts. Here we show that carbonates produced by prokaryotes decompose 4°C below those produced by eukaryotes and 19°C below their abiotic counterparts. If life ever evolved on Mars, it is likely to be confined to prokaryotes. Hence this thermal difference in the decomposition of carbonates can potentially be used as a physical signature in the search for evidence of life on Mars in future missions like Mars Science Laboratory 2011 through the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument.
Ausset Patrick
Cabane Michel
Coll Patrice
Navarro Gonzalez R.
Person Alain
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