Scientists study microorganisms on Earth to gain insight into life on other planets

There is a large slab of ancient seafloor on the Persian Gulf. Valuable information about the ocean floor and Earth's upper mantle can be found in these unique rocks.

A group of scientists from Arizona State University traveled to Oman to investigate a geological process unique to these rocks. The process of serpentinization provides hydrogen gas to the microorganisms that oxidize it for energy.

For this team, gaining an understanding of this process may lead to a better understanding of life on other planets and the development of space exploration instruments that can detect life on ocean worlds beyond Earth. The results of their research have been published in a journal, with the lead author being a graduate student in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. The study was co-authored by Shock.

It is believed that processes like serpentinization may exist throughout the universe, and evidence has been found that it may occur on Jupiter's moon Enceladus.

The research team wanted to find out what might affect the diversity of serpentinization-hosted ecosystems on Earth. Methanogens are microorganisms that oxidize hydrogen gas with carbon dioxide and produce methane. Simple life forms that likely evolved early on in Earth are the méntogens.

The team found out that not all serpentinization-hosted environments may support methanogens. There are organisms that reduce sulfate for energy in systems where methanogens are not supported.

Because sulfate reducers don't produce methane, this can have a big influence on the instruments we use to detect life on other planets.

The distribution of methanogens across the sites they studied suggests that methanogens in serpentinized fluids require more energy than those found in freshwater or marine sediments.

The high pH of serpentinized fluids or the low availability of their electron acceptor may be to blame.

A requirement for energy is fundamental to all life on Earth.

More information: Alta E. G. Howells et al, Energetically Informed Niche Models of Hydrogenotrophs Detected in Sediments of Serpentinized Fluids of the Samail Ophiolite of Oman, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2021JG006317 Journal information: Biogeosciences Citation: Scientists study microorganisms on Earth to gain insight into life on other planets (2022, April 27) retrieved 27 April 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-04-scientists-microorganisms-earth-gain-insight.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.