Grow in the Dark

ScienceNews ^ | June 25, 2005 | N. Moreira

[furball4paws]

A group of microbiologist describe a new species of green-sulfur bacteria, that grow by photosynthesis at depths of 2500 meters. Since no sunlight penetrates to that depth, they show that these organisms use faint light emitted from deep sea hydrothermal vents. This light is similar to that produced when an electric burner heats up and glows red. The bacteria also thrive in low oxygen environments.

[furball4paws]

Photosynthetic bacteria are capable uf using a wide piece of the electromagnetic spectrum, 350nm to 1100nm. The green-sulfur bacteria are particularly adept at growth at low light levels. They will also oxidize H₂S to elemental sulfur, S^o. This oxidized sulfur can then be used to support of Thiobacillus, i.e. further oxidized to sulfate, or it can be reduced by a variety of anaerobic sufur (or sulfate) reducing bacteria back to hydrogen sulfide. All of these organisms are autotrophic, that is they use CO₂ as a carbon source. The implications of this is that there can be significant primary productivity going on in the absence of sunlight, and since these vents can support a variety of life, the emergence of life on Earth or other planets, does not have to be powered by sunlight.

[furball4paws]

This paper is very interesting, to me and those who have an interest in abiogenesis may also find it so. If you think it's of interest to just a few, ping them please. I can babysit it for a little while.

[PatrickHenry]

EvolutionPing

A pro-evolution science list with over 280 names. See the list's description at my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail to be added or dropped.

[PatrickHenry]

First we have Cold Sugar in Space Provides Clue to the Molecular Origin of Life. Now we don't even need sunlight. The chances of finding life in locations other than the earth seem to be growing.

[43north]

Thomas Gold will likely be proven right after all...

[furball4paws]

It seems that any place with water and heat is a possibility for life. It's not possible to estimate how much primary productivity on Earth is produced by non-sunlight using autotrophs. It is certainly small, but also certainly significant.

[mmercier]

Way cool deep sea discovery ping.

[PatrickHenry]

It's not possible to estimate how much primary productivity on Earth is produced by non-sunlight using autotrophs. It is certainly small, but also certainly significant.

Here's a website with an estimate that maybe 10% of life on earth is bacteria in rock strata kilometers below the ocean floor. That was the result of a quick search. Maybe not authoritative.

[narby]

Cool post. Thanks for the ping PH.

[furball4paws]

But these are certainly not all autotrophic. There's a lot of organic stuff in waters, sometimes thousands of ppm, especially in oil fields, to feed on. I emailed Blankenship, who BTW is a good, sound scientist, to ask if he knows if there are volatile fatty acids in the water from these vents. No answer so far.

[Gumlegs]

Let's not forget hyper-intelligent shades of blue.

[furball4paws]

Ah, Gummy. I've thinking about a previous discussion of ours, and reading, and enjoying it. How about this?

"....Remember when the hick legislators in certain states, in obedience to William Jennings Bryan, who learned his biology from his pious old grandma, set up shop as scientific experts and made the whole world laugh itself sick forbidding the teaching of evolution?...."

From Sinclair Lewis, It Can't Happen Here (near the end of Chapter 2).

Not that great, but the best I have been able to find so far.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Gumlegs]

Well, there it is.

I was thinking more in terms of a magazine piece or longer but I bow to your Sinclair Lewis knowledge.

[PatrickHenry]

It may surprise you, but I've seen threads that generate even less excitement than this one. I've posted a few of them myself. Still, the article is interesting. So ... bump!

[b_sharp]

"It seems that any place with water and heat is a possibility for life. It's not possible to estimate how much primary productivity on Earth is produced by non-sunlight using autotrophs. It is certainly small, but also certainly significant."

Now, let's think...where else do we have water and heat in our solar system...hmmmm.

We may never run across intelligent life outside of Earth but I suspect we are going to find sh*&loads of life in the Solar system.

[PatrickHenry]

How did this thread end up in "Chat"? We're dead now, for sure.

[theFIRMbss]

>green-sulfur bacteria, that grow by photosynthesis at depths of 2500 meters. Since no sunlight penetrates to that depth

You get deep enough,
and you will get the light from
Pellicudar's sun . . .

[furball4paws]

Things have been real slow lately, I guess because of Great Britain and the holiday. It's hard to get even the geeks to stay in front of a CRT on great days like today.

[wyattearp]

Hey now, who you callin' a "geek"? ;-)

Great article. Deep exploration of Europa anyone?

Thanks for the ping PH.