Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria

Details Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006asbio...6..911p&link_type=abstract

Astrobiology, Volume 6, Issue 6, pp. 911-918.

Biology

2

Radioresistance, Martian Biosphere

Scientific paper

Here we propose that the radioresistance (tolerance to ionizing radiation) observed in several terrestrial bacteria has a martian origin. Multiple inconsistencies with the current view of radioresistance as an accidental side effect of tolerance to desiccation are discussed. Experiments carried out 25 years ago were reproduced to demonstrate that "ordinary" bacteria can develop high radioresistance ability after multiple cycles of exposure to high radiation dosages followed by cycles of recovery of the bacterial population. We argue that "natural" cycles of this kind could have taken place only on the martian surface, and we hypothesize that Mars microorganisms could have developed radioresistance in just several million years' time and, subsequently, have undergone transfer to Earth by way of martian meteorites. Our mechanism implies multiple and frequent exchanges of biota between Mars and Earth.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1239857