 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 -- Chemical and Biological Determinants of Habitability
TUESDAY April 15, 2008: AFTERNOON
Andrew Pohorille
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA, USA
Description
As we consider exploration of Mars, Titan, Europa and even Venus in the search for extant or extinct life in our solar system, and as our observational capabilities to discover extrasolar, Earth-like planets improve, it becomes critical to refine our concept of habitability. Usually, this concept has been reduced to the presence of liquid water (the "follow the water" strategy). It is, however, clear that water is not a sufficient and, according to some views, not even a necessary condition for life. Further requirements must be considered, especially if we are interested in "indigenous habitability" - the ability to sustain life that originated in the same space environment. This session will be focused on three topics related to the determination of indigenous habitability:
- The identification of solvents that can support life.
- The emergence of polymers capable of catalysis and information transfer.
- The existence of molecules and mechanisms for capturing energy from the surroundings and channeling it to generate biological systems.
These topics are closely connected. For example, the nature of solvents determines the capabilities to synthesize different polymers, as well as their structural stability and functional properties. Similarly, the requirements for energy and the nature of energy-carrying compounds depend on specific space environments, which might substantially differ from those on Earth. We especially solicit contributions that illuminate these connections. The goal of this session is not only to improve our basic knowledge in astrobiology but also help guide the selection, planning, and analysis of future missions and observational projects aimed at searching for life beyond Earth. For this reason, contributors are encouraged to consider what in situ or remote observations might be helpful in identifying the proposed determinants of habitability.
ORAL SESSIONS
3:15 10-09-O. What is Special About Water as a Matrix of Life? [invited] L. Pratt,
A. Pohorille, D. Asthagiri
3:40 10-01-O. Minerals, Organics, Water, Origins and Planetary Habitability
[invited] S. Benner
4:05 10-04-O. The Aromatic World P. Ehrenfreund, S. Rasmussen, J. Cleaves, L. Chen
4:20 BREAK
4:35 10-05-O. Energy as a Determinant of Habitability [invited] T. Hoehler
5:00 10-03-O. The Origin of the RNA World: Co-Evolution of Genes and Metabolism
S.D. Copley, E. Smith, H. Morowitz
5:15 10-10-O. Organosynthetic Reactions via Transition metal Catalysis: A Prelude to
Primitive Metabolism J. Stern, G.D. Cody, D.P. Summers
POSTERS
10-02-P. The Effect of Short Wavelength UV Radiation on Uracil Thin Layer.
An Application of the “Mars Lamp” A. BércesM. Egyeki, H. Lammer, G. Kovács, C. Kolb, G. Rontó
10-06-P. The Role of Geologic Nitrogen in Deep Subsurface Terrestrial Ecosystems
B. Mislowack, T.C. Onstott, D. Sigman, M. Borscik, B. Sherwood-Lollar,
G. Lacrampe-Couloume, M. Fogel
10-07-P. Creating an Assay to Examine the Effect of Temperature on
Protein-protein Interactions P. Nguyen, J.J. Silberg
10-08-P. Planetary Habitability Under Dynamic Temperatures
Y. Otero, A. Mendez, C. McKay, L. Fletcher
10-11-P. Nitrogen Fixation on Early Mars and Other Terrestrial Planets: Fixation of
Nitric Oxide to Ammonia by Iron Sulfide D. Summers, B. Khare, R.C. Basa