Connie on Nostr: ““The Atacama Desert presents enormous challenges to microbiologists due to its ...

““The Atacama Desert presents enormous challenges to microbiologists due to its extreme conditions. It is fascinating to see how adaptable the microbes are, and that we now have the tools to decipher microbial life and behavior in the face of climate change,” resumes Dirk Wagner. “Further methodological refinements and new molecular techniques could enhance our understanding of low-biomass ecosystems. The new eDNA/iDNA separation method could also be applied to other extreme environments, such as the dry valleys of Antarctica or Mars-like conditions. This would help expand our understanding of microbial adaptations and survival strategies in extreme ecosystems worldwide, and by identifying life forms in Mars-like environments, contribute to astrobiology.””

https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/press/news/details/ueberlebenskuenstler-im-extremen-klima-der-atacama-wueste