Journal
ASTROBIOLOGY
Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 859-875Publisher
MARY ANN LIEBERT INC
DOI: 10.1089/ast.2007.0043
Keywords
Fluorescence microscopy; Dyes; Quantum dots; Biosignatures; Wet chemistry
Funding
- U.S. EPA-Science [R831712]
- National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) [RGPIN 312970]
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Canadian Analogue Research Network (CARN)
- Canadian Polar Continental Shelf Project
- McGill University's High Arctic Research Station
- Department of Indian
- Northern Affairs-Northern Scientific Training Program
- Fonds Quebecois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT)
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The identification of extant and, in some cases, extinct bacterial life is most convincingly and efficiently performed with modern high-resolution microscopy. Epifluorescence microscopy of microbial autofluorescence or in conjunction with fluorescent dyes is among the most useful of these techniques. We explored fluorescent labeling and imaging of bacteria in rock and soil in the context of in situ life detection for planetary exploration. The goals were two-fold: to target non-Earth-centric biosignatures with the greatest possible sensitivity and to develop labeling procedures amenable to robotic implementation with technologies that are currently space qualified. A wide panel of commercially available dyes that target specific biosignature molecules was screened, and those with desirable properties (i.e., minimal binding to minerals, strong autofluorescence contrast, no need for wash steps) were identified. We also explored the potential of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as bacterial and space probes. A specific instrument for space implementation is suggested and discussed.
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