Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Biosensors01:17

Microbial Biosensors

88
Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...
88

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sepsis caused by two <i>Phytobacter</i> species: clinical cases and polyphasic characterization of an emerging Enterobacteriaceae.

ASM case reports·2026
Same author

<i>Kosakonia beeri</i> sp. nov. and <i>Phytobacter cepae</i> sp. nov. isolated from onion (<i>Allium cepa</i>).

International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology·2026
Same author

Construction of a superspectrum for rapid identification of opportunistic human pathogens belonging to the genus Phytobacter using whole-cell MALDI-TOF MS.

Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease·2026
Same author

Development of two quantitative PCR assays for the detection of emerging opportunistic human pathogens belonging to the genus Phytobacter in routine diagnostics.

Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease·2024
Same author

An app for apples: Citizen-led mapping of fire blight in Central Asia.

Journal of plant pathology : an international journal of the Italian Phytopathological Society·2024
Same author

Fire blight cases in Almaty Region of Kazakhstan in the proximity of wild apple distribution area.

Journal of plant pathology : an international journal of the Italian Phytopathological Society·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Nanopore DNA Sequencing for Metagenomic Soil Analysis
07:33

Nanopore DNA Sequencing for Metagenomic Soil Analysis

Published on: December 14, 2017

32.5K

Nanopore-based instruments as biosensors for future planetary missions.

Fabio Rezzonico1

  • 1Research group Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Zurich University for Applied Sciences (ZHAW) , Wädenswil, Switzerland .

Astrobiology
|April 2, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nanopore sensing offers a novel approach to detecting extraterrestrial life by analyzing single molecules. This technology can identify biopolymers, even if alien life uses different biochemistry, making it ideal for exploring ocean worlds like Europa.

More Related Videos

Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor
08:22

Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor

Published on: February 16, 2018

15.1K
Sequencing of mRNA from Whole Blood using Nanopore Sequencing
11:26

Sequencing of mRNA from Whole Blood using Nanopore Sequencing

Published on: June 3, 2019

15.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Nanopore DNA Sequencing for Metagenomic Soil Analysis
07:33

Nanopore DNA Sequencing for Metagenomic Soil Analysis

Published on: December 14, 2017

32.5K
Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor
08:22

Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor

Published on: February 16, 2018

15.1K
Sequencing of mRNA from Whole Blood using Nanopore Sequencing
11:26

Sequencing of mRNA from Whole Blood using Nanopore Sequencing

Published on: June 3, 2019

15.2K

Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology and Astrobiological Research
  • Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Biotechnology and Biosensing

Background:

  • Current exobiological research focuses on detecting microbial life and biosignatures, shifting from visual imaging to biochemical experiments.
  • Existing life-detection methods rely on Terran biochemistry, potentially failing if extraterrestrial life uses different molecular building blocks.
  • The search for extraterrestrial life is challenged by the need for on-site experiments that can succeed even if life is not visually apparent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of nanopore-based sensing technology for detecting extraterrestrial life, particularly in remote watery environments.
  • To address the limitations of current biochemical detection methods by proposing a technology that is independent of prior knowledge of alien biochemistry.
  • To evaluate nanopore sensing as a portable and effective tool for automated analysis in planetary exploration missions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing nanopore-based sensing devices to analyze single molecules, including informational biopolymers like DNA and RNA.
  • Measuring electrical current changes across a membrane as analytes pass through a nanopore (protein or solid-state).
  • Leveraging the physical properties of biopolymers to discriminate and analyze them without prior detailed chemical knowledge.

Main Results:

  • Nanopore sensing demonstrates the potential to analyze biopolymers, including genetic information carriers, independent of their specific chemical composition.
  • The technology's ability to analyze molecules without prior knowledge of their chemistry circumvents the limitations of biochemistry-dependent methods.
  • Nanopore devices are sufficiently portable for automated analysis, making them suitable for in-situ planetary exploration.

Conclusions:

  • Nanopore-based sensing is a promising candidate technology for the search for extraterrestrial life signatures in environments like Mars, Europa, and Enceladus.
  • This approach offers a robust method for detecting life's molecular building blocks, even if they differ fundamentally from Earth-based biochemistry.
  • The portability and analytical capabilities of nanopore sensors align with the requirements for future automated, remote life-detection missions.