Stereo-Specific Glucose Consumption May Be Used to Distinguish Between Chemical and Biological Reactivity on Mars: A Preliminary Test on Earth
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2009
Publication Title
Astrobiology
Volume
9
Issue
5
First page number:
443
Last page number:
446
Abstract
Two alternative hypotheses explain the degradation of organics in the Viking Labeled Release experiment on Mars. Either martian soil contains live indigenous microorganisms or it is sterile but chemically reactive. These two possibilities could be distinguished by the use of pure preparations of glucose isomers. In the laboratory, selected eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea consumed only D-glucose, not L-glucose, while permanganate oxidized both isomers. On Mars, selective consumption of either D- or L-glucose would constitute evidence for biological activity.
Keywords
Exobiology; Glucose; Life on other planets; Mars (Planet) – Surface; Mars surface samples; Organic compounds
Disciplines
Astrophysics and Astronomy | Life Sciences | Organic Chemistry | Other Life Sciences | The Sun and the Solar System
Language
English
Repository Citation
Sun, H. J.,
Saccomanno, V. R.,
Hedlund, B. P.,
McKay, C. P.
(2009).
Stereo-Specific Glucose Consumption May Be Used to Distinguish Between Chemical and Biological Reactivity on Mars: A Preliminary Test on Earth.
Astrobiology, 9(5),
443-446.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ast.2008.0315