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A search for extraterrestrial eukaryotes: physical and paleontological aspects
1International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
Summary
This study proposes a search for extraterrestrial eukaryotes (SETE) by examining cellular division and gene silencing. The key is identifying delayed replication in heterochromatic chromosome segments, a hallmark of eukaryogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Astrobiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Distinguishing primitive eukaryotes from archaebacteria is crucial for astrobiology.
- Current methods for identifying extraterrestrial life may not reliably detect early eukaryotic forms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel assay for detecting early signs of eukaryogenesis in extraterrestrial environments.
- To refine strategies for the search for extraterrestrial eukaryotes (SETE).
Main Methods:
- Focus on gene silencing as a potential indicator of eukaryoticity.
- Develop an experiment to detect cellular division with delayed replication in heterochromatic chromosome segments.
- Evaluate the limitations of detecting membrane-bound chromosomes and histone proteins for identifying eukaryotes.
Main Results:
- Gene silencing offers a promising, robotically applicable assay for eukaryoticity.
- Cellular division coupled with delayed heterochromatin replication is a strong indicator of eukaryogenesis.
- Membrane-bound nucleoids and histone-like proteins are insufficient for definitive eukaryotic identification.
Conclusions:
- A SETE program should prioritize assays targeting gene silencing and specific cellular division patterns.
- Potential extraterrestrial environments like Mars' deep crust and Europa's subsurface ocean warrant investigation for signs of early life.
- Further research is needed to validate these assays for robotic exploration.