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Astrobiology: Life in the Universe

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  1. Marine Biological Laboratory

    PI Mitchell Sogin
    Members 0 (Inactive)
    Active Dates 7/1998 - 10/2003
    Team Website http://astrobiology.mbl.edu/

    Executive Summary

    Project Reports

    Ancestry of the earliest proteins

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4

    Diversity and physiology of prokaryotes in selected thermophilic and mesophilic environments that might resemble early earth's biosphere

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4, 6, 7

    Diversity of eukaryotes in thermophilic and mesophilic environments that might resemble early earth's biosphere

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4, 6, 7

    Education and Public Outreach Activities

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 6, 7, 10

    Eukaryote Biodiversity and Physiology at Acidic Extremes: Spain's Tinto River

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 6, 7, 8

    Eukaryote origins and the evolution of cellular complexity - Eukaryotic rRNA evolution

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 6, 7

    Eukaryote origins and the evolution of cellular complexity - Evolution of tubulins

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4

    Genes that regulate photosymbiotic relationships

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Protist diversity in extreme environments

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6, 7

    Relationship of Genetic Changes to Phenotypic changes in Organism - Environment Interactions

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4

    EPO Reports

    no reports submitted

    Project Reports

    Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

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    • Change seach results by adding or removing a roadmap objective:

  • 1 Determine whether the atmosphere of the early Earth, hydrothermal or exogenous matter were significant sources of organic matter.
  • 2 Develop and test plausible pathways by which ancient counterparts of membrane systems, proteins and nucleic acid were synthesized from simpler precursors and assembled into protocells.
  • 3 Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems.
  • 4 Expand and interpret the genomic database of a select group of key microorganisms in order to reveal the history and dynamics of evolution.
  • 5 Describe the sequences of causes and effects associated with the development of Earth's early biosphere and the global environment.
  • 6 Define how ecophysiological processes structure microbial communities, influence their adaptation and evolution, and affect their detection on other planets.
  • 7 Identify the environmental limits for by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions.
  • 8 Search for evidence of ancient climates, extinct life and potential habitats for extant life on Mars.
  • 9 Determine the presence of life's chemical precursors and potential habitats for life in the outer solar system.
  • 10 Understand the natural processes by which life can migrate from one world to another. Are we alone in the Universe?
  • 11 Determine (theoretically and empirically) the ultimate outcome of the planet-forming process around other stars, especially the habitable ones.
  • 12 Define climatological and geological effects upon the limits of habitable zones around the Sun and other stars to help define the frequency of habitable planets in the universe.
  • 13 Define an array of astronomically detectable spectroscopic features that indicate habitable conditions and/or the presence of life on an extrasolar planet.
  • 14 Determine the resilience of local and global ecosystems through their response to natural and human-induced disturbances.
  • 15 Model the future habitability of Earth by examining the interactions between the biosphere and the chemistry and radiation balance of the atmosphere.
  • 16 Understand the human-directed processes by which life can migrate from one world to another.
  • 17 Refine planetary protection guidelines and develop protection technology for human and robotic missions.
  • 18 Currently, this project does not fit one of these categories.

    • Change search results by adding or removing a team:

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    • Astrobiology: Life in the Universe
    • Editor: Wendy Dolci
    • NASA Official: Wendy Dolci
    • Last Updated November 23, 2009
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