Study of the micro-organisms preserved in the central Antarctic glacier in connection with the problems of astrobiology

Irina N. Mitskevich; Margarita N. Poglazova; Sabit S. Abyzov

doi:10.1117/12.486689

30 January 2003 Study of the microorganisms preserved in the Central Antarctic glacier in connection with the problems of astrobiology

Irina N. Mitskevich, Margarita N. Poglazova, Sabit S. Abyzov

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4939, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VI; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486689
Event: Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology V, 2002, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

The microbiological investigations of icy formations on the Earth, including Central Antarctic glacier, are closely related to the problem of origin of life on the Earth and other planets, as well as to the problem of transferring of some primitive life forms through the space. The study of the Central Antarctic ice core (50 - 3540 m depth) provided us with the information on abundance and morphological diversity of procaryotic and eucaryotic microorganisms brought on glacier surface by atmospheric currents in different geological epochs. Some microorganisms remained viable owing to the anabiotic state. The incubation of the thawed water of ice core samples showed that the intensity of bacterial propagation depended on several factors including initial cell concentration, organic matter content in the sample and incubation temperature. The quantity of microorganisms increased more noticeably at 20, 25 and 28°C than at 15°C. These results suggest the occurrence of mesophilic microorganisms in the samples from the horizons studied. It is obvious that these microorganisms are resistant to such external environments. In addition the results obtained may indirectly evidence for climatic conditions in ancient epochs.

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Irina N. Mitskevich, Margarita N. Poglazova, and Sabit S. Abyzov "Study of the microorganisms preserved in the Central Antarctic glacier in connection with the problems of astrobiology", Proc. SPIE 4939, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VI, (30 January 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486689

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