An Odyssey Of Mars Science: Part 6
Microphotograph Of Thermophilic Bacteria by Dr David R. Boone
Microbial populations were demonstrated in samples from deep terrestrial subsurface environments. This project is a part of a collaborative program funded by the Subsurface Science Program of the U.S. Department of Energy. Subsurface samples aseptically retrieved to the surface by the research team are examined for indigenous bacteria; such bacteria have been found as deep as 2.8 km. Dr. Boone isolated a new strictly anaerobic bacterium that grows by oxidizing formate or lactate and reducing ferric iron or manganese dioxide. Although this species is strictly anaerobic, it was placed in the genus Bacillus because evolutionary studies indicated that this is where its closest relatives are classified. The new bacterium was named Bacillus infernus, which means "the bacillus from hell." Also, a new species of thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfotomaculum putei was isolated and described. |
Sacramento - Dec 18, 2003
Related Links
Speedera To Stream European Space Agency's Mars Express Christmas Landing
Santa Clara - Dec 18, 2003
Speedera Networks, a leading global provider of on-demand distributed application and content delivery services, and Capcave, an Internet systems integrator based in the Netherlands, today announced that the two organizations are working directly with the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide live streaming of the Mars Express probe scheduled to arrive on Mars at Christmas.
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