Friday, 4/8/2022
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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 withstand 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 and those cultivated from Carolina Biological were placed into solutions of Mg(ClO4)2 and NaClO4, two perchlorates found on Mars with potential to keep water liquid under low pressure and temperature. The tardigrades were studied in increasing time increments and a low amount of UV light was introduced.
Human Subjects
no
IRB Approval
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 Lynn, "Tardigrade Survivability under Simulated Martian Conditions" (2022). Celebration of Scholarship. 3.
https://digitalcommons.shawnee.edu/cos/2022/day5/3
Tardigrade Survivability under Simulated Martian Conditions
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are considered extremotolerant organisms. Through unique survival strategies, they can withstand 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 and those cultivated from Carolina Biological were placed into solutions of Mg(ClO4)2 and NaClO4, two perchlorates found on Mars with potential to keep water liquid under low pressure and temperature. The tardigrades were studied in increasing time increments and a low amount of UV light was introduced.