Linked Life Data

11797006

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11797006

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6869
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-1-17
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
The search for extraterrestrial life may be facilitated if ecosystems can be found on Earth that exist under conditions analogous to those present on other planets or moons. It has been proposed, on the basis of geochemical and thermodynamic considerations, that geologically derived hydrogen might support subsurface microbial communities on Mars and Europa in which methanogens form the base of the ecosystem. Here we describe a unique subsurface microbial community in which hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing Archaea far outnumber the Bacteria. More than 90% of the 16S ribosomal DNA sequences recovered from hydrothermal waters circulating through deeply buried igneous rocks in Idaho are related to hydrogen-using methanogenic microorganisms. Geochemical characterization indicates that geothermal hydrogen, not organic carbon, is the primary energy source for this methanogen-dominated microbial community. These results demonstrate that hydrogen-based methanogenic communities do occur in Earth's subsurface, providing an analogue for possible subsurface microbial ecosystems on other planets.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0028-0836
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
17
pubmed:volume
415
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
312-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
A hydrogen-based subsurface microbial community dominated by methanogens.
pubmed:affiliation
US Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.