Posted on 01/02/2018 11:37:37 AM PST by BenLurkin
NASA astronauts successfully sequenced the DNA of microbes found aboard the International Space Station, marking the first time unknown organisms were sequenced and identified entirely in space. Previously, microbes had to be sent to Earth for analysis, and this new sequencing marks an important step in diagnosing astronaut illnesses and, someday, identifying any DNA-based life found on other planets...
...
As a part of the Genes in Space-3 mission, astronauts on the space station last year touched a petri plate to surfaces on the space station and grew the bacteria found there into colonies, which NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson used to amplify and then sequence their DNA. In July 2016, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins became the first to sequence DNA in space, but this latest experiment was both the first time cells were transferred for analysis and the first time unknown organisms were identified in space. (Rubins used mouse DNA sent from Earth.) ...
Whitson and the samples traveled back to Earth in September 2017, when the next phase of the Genes in Space-3 mission began. Scientists sequenced the microbes again on Earth and verified that each had been identified correctly.
Before this experiment, astronauts had amplified DNA for analysis on the space station using a device called the miniPCR thermal cycler, and they had sequenced a DNA sample with the so-called MinION device. But at last, they had successfully combined the two, NASA officials said.
"It was a natural collaboration to put these two pieces of technology together, because individually, they're both great," Wallace said, "but together, they enable extremely powerful molecular biology applications."
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Whatever they are keep them out there. 8>)
I agree
Yes. There would be microbes on the INSIDE of the ISS. The title Makes it sound like this were space borne life.
They’re actually microbes that hitched a ride from earth. They’re not from space.
No biogenesis. Not now. Maybe not ever.
It’s probably the same flora that we earthbound humans grow down here on Terra Firma. Only since humans are incapable of keeping their flora to themselves no matter where they go, Sergio probably wiped one of his boogies on the wall up there.
Nuke it in space.
It’s the only way to be sure.................
From ALIEN MICROBES! to “things that we find all the time on the space station”.
Guess they’re not going to tell us it’s what’s also commonly found on restaurant mints and cell phones.
“Antibodies, Bones. Antibodies.”
What could possibly go wrong???
Or hitched a ride during outside repairs and jaunts.
“They’re actually microbes that hitched a ride from earth. They’re not from space.”
Yes. It’s very misleading.
8>)
Watch the film LIFE from 2017 and you will see thus is a serious matter.
After growing the microbes large enough to communicate, they had a message for the puny humans.............
Send more Chuck Berry
They didn't end well.
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