Interplanetary Transfer of Photosynthesis

SpaceRef ^ | Astrobiology 7(1), 1–9, March 2007 | Mary Ann Liebert

[SunkenCiv]

We launched a cryptoendolithic habitat, made of a gneissic impactite inoculated with Chroococcidiopsis sp., into Earth orbit. After orbiting the Earth for 16 days, the rock entered the Earth's atmosphere and was recovered in Kazakhstan. The heat of entry ablated and heated the rock to a temperature well above the upper temperature limit for life to below the depth at which light levels are insufficient for photosynthetic organisms (5 mm), thus killing all of its photosynthetic inhabitants. This experiment shows that atmospheric transit acts as a strong biogeographical dispersal filter to the interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis.

Following atmospheric entry we found that a transparent, glassy fusion crust had formed on the outside of the rock. Re-inoculated Chroococcidiopsis grew preferentially under the fusion crust in the relatively unaltered gneiss beneath. Organisms under the fusion grew approximately twice as fast as the organisms on the control rock. Thus, the biologically destructive effects of atmospheric transit can generate entirely novel and improved endolithic habitats for organisms on the destination planetary body that survive the dispersal filter.

[SunkenCiv]

Same author:

Spectral Signatures of Photosynthesis. I. Review of Earth Organisms and II. Coevolution with Other Stars And The Atmosphere on Extrasolar Worlds

[SunkenCiv]

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[cripplecreek]

A re entry created terrarium.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[muawiyah]

Not surprised that touching down on a planet improves the environment ~ for a space-faring sort of photosynthetic critter anyway.

If he or she can check in with a boatload of free genes (in their stable traveling forms, that is, viruses), a complete colony with every sort of creature can, in time, be constructed.