Planning Implications Related to Sterilization-Sensitive Science Investigations Associated with Mars Sample Return (MSR)

Velbel, M. A.; Cockell, Charles S.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Marty, Bernard; Regberg, A. B.; Smith, Alvin L.; Tosca, N. J.; Kminek, Gerhard; Meÿer, Michael A.; Beaty, D. W.; Carrier, Brandi; Haltigin, T.; Hays, L. E.; Agee, C. B.; Busemann, H.; Cavalazzi, Barbara; Debaille, Vinciane; Grady, M. M.; Hauber, Ernst; Hützler, Aurore; McCubbin, F. M.; Pratt, Lisa M.; Smith, C. L.; Summons, Roger E.; Swindle, T. D.; Tait, K. T.; Udry, Arya; Usui, Tomohiro; Westall, Francès; Zorzano, María-Paz

doi:10.1089/ast.2021.0113

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 192 publications

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“…As these samples come from a potentially habitable planet, contamination control in the environment where the samples are manipulated will be as important as the search for life itself. In addition, and for planetary protection purposes, the search for potentially replicating life will be part of the sample safety assessment protocol 24 that will be applied to the sample collection within the Bio-Safety Level 4 (BSL 4) laboratory environment, in containment 25 – 27 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

Basapathi Raghavendra,

Zorzano,

Kumaresan

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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DNA is an incontrovertible biosignature whose sequencing aids in species identification, genome functionality, and evolutionary relationships. To study life within the rocks of Earth and Mars, we demonstrate, in an ISO5 clean room, a procedure based on nanopore technology that correctly identifies organisms at picogram levels of DNA without amplification. Our study with E. coli and S. cerevisiae DNA samples showed that MinION sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) can unequivocally detect and characterise microbes with as little as 2 pg of input with just 50 active nanopores. This result is an excellent advancement in sensitivity, immediately applicable to investigating low biomass samples. This value is also at the level of possible background contamination associated with the reagents and the environment. Cultivation of natural and heat-treated Martian analogue (MMS-2) regolith samples, exposed to atmospheric water vapour or in increasing water concentrations, led to the extraction of 600–1000 pg of DNA from 500 mg of soil. Applying the low detectability technology enabled through MinION sequencer for a natural low biomass setting, we characterised the dry MMS-2 and found few soil-related organisms and airborne contaminants. The picogram detection level and the procedure presented here, may be of interest for the future Mars sample Return program, and the life research and planetary protection studies that will be implemented through the sample safety assessment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

Basapathi Raghavendra,

Zorzano,

Kumaresan

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

Bosak,

Shuster,

Scheller

et al. 2024

AGU Advances

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The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. The samples include a sulfate‐ and clay‐bearing mudstone and sandstone, a fluvial sandstone from a stratigraphically low position at the fan front, and a carbonate‐bearing sandstone deposited above the sulfate‐bearing strata. All samples contain aqueously precipitated materials and most or all were aqueously deposited. Although the rover instruments have not confidently detected organic matter in the rocks from the fan front, the much more sensitive terrestrial instruments will still be able to search for remnants of prebiotic chemistries and past life, and study Mars's past habitability in the samples returned to Earth. The hydrated, sulfate‐bearing mudstone has the highest potential to preserve organic matter and biosignatures, whereas the carbonate‐bearing sandstones can be used to constrain when and for how long Jezero crater contained liquid water. Returned sample science analyses of sulfate, carbonate, clay, phosphate and igneous minerals as well as trace metals and volatiles that are present in the samples acquired at the fan front would provide transformative insights into past habitable environments on Mars, the evolution of its magnetic field, atmosphere and climate and the past and present cycling of atmospheric and crustal water, sulfur and carbon.

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Science and Curation Considerations for the Design of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Sample Receiving Facility (SRF)

et al. 2022

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Planning Implications Related to Sterilization-Sensitive Science Investigations Associated with Mars Sample Return (MSR)

Abstract: This paper was written by the MSR Science Planning Group 2 (MSPG2) working under a Terms of Reference from NASA and ESA.

Cited by 9 publications

References 192 publications

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth

Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

Science and Curation Considerations for the Design of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Sample Receiving Facility (SRF)

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