Astrobiology is the multi-disciplinary field devoted to the investigation of the origin; physical, chemical and environmental limitations; and the distribution in space and time of life on Earth and in the Cosmos. Astrobiology seeks an answer to one of the most fundamental of all questions: Is Life Restricted to Planet Earth or is Life a Cosmic Imperative? Understanding the characteristics, properties, habits, and diversity of living organisms on Earth is crucial to determine where and how to search for evidence of life elsewhere. New techniques and methodologies must be developed in order to determine a suitable suite of valid biomarkers that is needed to facilitate the differentiation of abiotic processes from true signatures of life. This is crucial to establish the criteria needed to properly evaluate potential biosignatures in ancient Earth rocks and in a wide variety of Astromaterials. This volume includes papers treating many of these topics. They range! from considerations of relict microbial communities of extreme environments to complex organic molecules. Other papers discuss the use of stable isotopes and their biological fractionation as a baseline for evaluating extraterrestrial evidence and the use of chirality and composition of indigenous amino acids for differentiating between terrestrial and extraterrestrial organic matter in Astromaterials. Also treated in this volume are geomorph parallels, sediment patterns, and cyclicities in permafrost sediments of Earth and Mars; the survival of bacteria in space, eclipsing binaries, and advanced DNA and protein chip technology for future robotic missions to search for life in the Solar System.IOS Press is an international science, technical and medical publisher of high-quality books for academics, scientists, and professionals in all fields. Some of the areas we publish in: -Biomedicine -Oncology -Artificial intelligence -Databases and information systems -Maritime engineering -Nanotechnology -Geoengineering -All aspects of physics -E-governance -E-commerce -The knowledge economy -Urban studies -Arms control -Understanding and responding to terrorism -Medical informatics -Computer Sciences
Author(s): Richard B. Hoover, Aleksei Iurevich Rozanov, Roland Paepe
Publisher: IOS Press
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 233
Tags: Биологические дисциплины;Астробиология;
1586035126......Page 1
Preface......Page 6
Acknowledgements......Page 7
NATO Participants......Page 8
List of Student Participants......Page 9
Contents......Page 12
Nature of Framboidal Structures in Black Shales (the Cambrian of the Siberian Platform and the Permian of the Barents Sea Shelf)......Page 14
Bacteriomorphic Structures From the Sinsk Formation (Lower Cambrian of the Siberian Platform)......Page 19
Constraining Subglacial Settings Using Clay-Supported Ice Rafted Detritus (Mud Grains) in Antarctic Marine Sediment: A Framework for Astrobiology......Page 24
Apsidal Motion Problem in the Eclipsing Binary Star DR Vulpeculae......Page 34
Amino Acids: Probes for Life's Origin in the Solar System......Page 38
Mineralization of Cyanobacteria......Page 51
Microfossils, Biominerals, and Chemical Biomarkers in Meteorites......Page 56
Survival of Microorganisms in Space, an Experimental Contribution to the Discussion on Viable Transfer of Life in the Solar System......Page 79
Reactions of Urazole and its Analogs with Sugars and Metals under Prebiotic Conditions......Page 89
Apatite as Biosignature......Page 94
Tikhov's Astrobotany as a Prelude to Modern Astrobiology......Page 99
Computation of Sediment Cycles on Mars and Earth......Page 101
Landscape, Sediment, Red Soil, Permafrost Geomorph Parallels on Earth and Mars......Page 117
Biochemical Markers in Rock Coatings......Page 133
The Influence of Space Parameters like Solar Ultraviolet Radiation on the Survival of Microorganisms......Page 139
Bacterial Paleontology......Page 145
Paleobiological and Biogeochemical Vestiges of Early Terrestrial Biota: Baseline for Evaluation of Extraterrestrial Evidence......Page 159
Formation of Ordered Structures of Charged Grains in Gas-Dusty Atmospheres of Planets and Comets during Lightning Discharge......Page 183
Exobiology of Titan......Page 188
The Role of Living and Nonliving Organic Matter in Volkonskoite Formation......Page 194
Astrobiotechnology: Alternative Concepts for Astrobiology Solar System Exploration......Page 200
The Study of Remains of Microorganisms in Ancient Earth Sedimentary Rocks for Astrobiology......Page 209
Recent Microbiology and Precambrian Paleontology......Page 214
Author Index......Page 230
