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Life Detection on Icy Moons Using Flow Cytometry and Exogenous Fluorescent Stains.

Matthew L Wallace1, Nicholas Tallarida1, Wayne W Schubert1

  • 1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.

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|September 6, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Flow cytometry can detect life on icy moons and Mars using fluorescent stains to identify biomarkers like nucleic acids and proteins. This method successfully distinguishes between living organisms and non-living material in simulated space samples.

Keywords:
Exogenous stainsFlow cytometryIcy moonsLife detection

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Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Planetary Science
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Flow cytometry is a promising technology for *in situ* life detection on extraterrestrial bodies like icy moons and Mars.
  • Identifying key biomarkers is crucial for distinguishing life from abiotic materials in extreme environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a flow cytometry method for identifying four classes of biomarkers (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) using exogenous fluorescent stains.
  • To assess the effectiveness of this method in distinguishing between biotic and abiotic materials in simulated extraterrestrial samples.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized flow cytometry with exogenous fluorescent stains targeting nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.
  • Tested the method with six known organisms and abiotic materials.
  • Analyzed six natural samples with unknown biotic/abiotic content to simulate a lander experiment.

Main Results:

  • Successfully identified the four target biomarker classes using exogenous stains.
  • Demonstrated the ability to clearly distinguish between known organisms and abiotic materials.
  • Showcased the separation of biotic from abiotic material in natural samples using scatter plots.

Conclusions:

  • Exogenous staining with flow cytometry is effective for *in situ* biomarker detection and life identification on icy moons and Mars.
  • This technique, combined with intrinsic fluorescence and data analysis, enhances life detection capabilities for space missions.