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University
Shawnee State University
Major
Biological Sciences
Presentation Types
Oral Presentation
Keywords:
Tardigrades, Mars, Astrobiology
Abstract
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are considered extremotolerant organisms. Through unique survival strategies, they can tolerate many stressful conditions that would otherwise kill regular organisms, such as extreme temperature/pressure ranges, high salinity, and even the vacuum of space. Their incredible ability to survive makes them an ideal model organism for astrobiological studies, including those involving the survival of life on Mars. This research aims to determine whether tardigrades can survive on Mars and how long they can persist under these conditions. In this project, lichen-dwelling tardigrades will be placed into jars of two perchlorate types- Mg(ClO4)2 and NaClO4- along with a Martian substrate simulant. The pressure will then be lowered to Martian surface pressure levels of around 610Pa. The tardigrades are to be exposed to these conditions in increasing time increments.
Human Subjects
no
Faculty Mentor Name
Timothy Hamilton
Faculty Mentor Title
Director, Clark Planetarium; Professor of Physics
Faculty Mentor Academic Department
Natural Sciences
Recommended Citation
Henderson, Jessica L., "Tardigrade Survivability under Simulated Martian Conditions" (2021). Celebration of Scholarship. 1.
https://digitalcommons.shawnee.edu/cos/2021/day1/1
Tardigrade Survivability under Simulated Martian Conditions
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are considered extremotolerant organisms. Through unique survival strategies, they can tolerate many stressful conditions that would otherwise kill regular organisms, such as extreme temperature/pressure ranges, high salinity, and even the vacuum of space. Their incredible ability to survive makes them an ideal model organism for astrobiological studies, including those involving the survival of life on Mars. This research aims to determine whether tardigrades can survive on Mars and how long they can persist under these conditions. In this project, lichen-dwelling tardigrades will be placed into jars of two perchlorate types- Mg(ClO4)2 and NaClO4- along with a Martian substrate simulant. The pressure will then be lowered to Martian surface pressure levels of around 610Pa. The tardigrades are to be exposed to these conditions in increasing time increments.