地球以外的微生物生命的可能性提出了天体生物学中的一个基本问题。考虑到任何外星生命在自然界中都是微生物的可能性,开发敏感和特定的确认测试对于识别潜在的生命栖息地至关重要。这里,我们描述了一种通过加标和回收实验检测火星土壤模拟物中微生物的新方法。我们的方法采用小型化技术,可以快速,灵敏地评估土壤样品中微生物的存在。我们的研究结果表明,这种方法可能是识别火星和其他外星物体上微生物生命的潜在栖息地的有价值的工具。
The possibility of microbial life beyond Earth presents a fundamental question in astrobiology. Given the likelihood that any extra-terrestrial life will be microbial in nature, the development of sensitive and specific confirmatory tests is crucial for the identification of potential habitats for life. Here, we describe a novel methodology for the detection of microorganisms in Martian soil simulants through spiking and recovery experiments. Our approach employs miniaturised techniques that enable the rapid and sensitive assessment of microbial presence in soil samples. The results of our study suggest that this methodology could be a valuable tool for the identification of potential habitats for microbial life on Mars and other extraterrestrial bodies.