nai

Project Reports

• The Planetary Context of Biological Evolution: Research on Terminal Proterozoic Evolution and the Coevolution of Life and Environments

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0 6.0 8.0

• Astrobiology at UCLA: An Integrated Multidisciplinary Approach to Research and Education

  RESEARCH at UCLA is now focused on six main themes: (1) extrasolar planetary systems; (2) geobiology and geochemistry of early Earth and Mars; (3) evolution of Earth’s early life; (4) genomic evolution and the tree of life; (5) celestial influences on the terrestrial environment; and (6) exploration for life in the Solar System. Over the past year, some of these themes have grown significantly; the thrust of the last has been seriously compromised by the successive losses of both the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0

• The Environment of Prebiotic Earth: Theoretical Approach

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 8.0 11.0 12.0 15.0

• Exploring the Living Universe: Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Solar System

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 12.0

• The Environment of Prebiotic Earth and the Origin of Life: Experimental Approach

  Our group at SUNY-Stony Brook has focussed on two research projects: a) rate of CO hydration and stability of formate and b) reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia catalyzed by minerals.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 12.0

• Redox-Sensitive Metals and Environmental Evolution

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 12.0 14.0

• Early Microbial Ecosystems: Modern Analogs

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0 13.0

• Fractionation of Transition Metal Isotopes

  The primary focus of this research is to determine if fractionations of transition metal isotopes can be used as biomarkers. We are also interested in the possible use of such fractionations to study changes in metal geochemical cycling through time, which could provide insight into past changes in environmental conditions and/or changing use of metals in biochemistry. The biomarker applications are of primary interest to the JPL/Caltech Team. The other applications are also of interest to the Harvard Team, which also supports this research.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 8.0

• Molecular Paleontology and the Stratigraphic Record

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0

• Biological Influences on Weathering

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 6.0 8.0 12.0 13.0

• Biochemistry of Physhrophilic Organisms

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Theoretical Studies of Hydrothermal Synthesis Reactions

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 9.0

• Molecular Analysis of Microbial Ecosystems in Extreme Environments

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 14.0 16.0 17.0

• Origin of Martian Soils

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0

• Whole Genome-Based Phylogenetic Analysis of Free-Living Microorganisms

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0

• NO TITLE – Marilyn L. Fogel – JPL

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Habitability of Planets

  The goal of our research is to understand the factors that influence the long- term habitability of planets.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 12.0 14.0

• Fe Isotope Biosignatures

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.0 5.0 8.0 11.0 13.0

• Paleomicrobiology and the Evolution of Metabolic Pathways in the Archaean Environment.

  The project has two parts. First, ancient microfossils preserved in cherts are being studied with an ion microprobe allowing the analysis of the carbon isotopic composition of individual microfossils. Second, the process of carbon isotopic fractionation is being studied in a diverse set of microorganisms. Collectively, the results will constrain the carbon fixation biochemistry of ancient microorganisms.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Timescale for the Early Evolution of Life on Earth: Molecular Evolutionary Approach – Hedges

  The overall goal of research in this lab is to develop an accurate timescale for the evolution of life on Earth for comparison with Earth history (rise in oxygen, climate, plate tectonics, etc.). Such a synthesis will help to focus searches for life elsewhere. We use DNA and protein sequence data from the public databases and from sequences generated in the lab.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 1

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Co-Evolution of Planets and Biospheres: Lessons From Earth and Mars

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations. Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations. – Katherine Freeman 1

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 15.0

• Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metasoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations – Mark E. Patzkowsky (Co-PI)

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere/Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans – Rosemary C. Capo, Brian W. Stewart

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Astrobiology Education and Public Outreach

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0

• “Alien Hunting” on What’s in the News

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 12.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 2

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 3

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations. Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations. – Ohmoto 1

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations. Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations. – Ohmoto 2

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations. Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations. – Ohmoto 3

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations. Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations. – Katherine Freeman 2

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 15.0