Assumption of unknown organisms New method for sample analysis of Mars etc. University of Tokyo August 31, 5:09
Since the exploration plan to bring back soil from Mars etc. is progressing, a group of the University of Tokyo has developed a new method of encapsulating with calcium carbonate crystals so that even unknown organisms can be safely analyzed Announced
In the United States, plans are being made to bring back Mars' soil to the earth with a probe and investigate the traces of life, and Japan is planning to bring back the soil from Mars' satellite Phobos in 2029, and if unknown creatures exist There is a possibility that it may cause a new illness, and we are considering how to handle it.
JAXA = Associate Professor Yohei Suzuki of the University of Tokyo, who is a specialist member of the Safety Review Committee at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is working on a sample containing bacteria and viruses using calcium carbonate crystals with an aqueous solution containing calcium. When contained, the bacteria stopped growing in about 1 minute, and the virus had lost its infectivity.
On the other hand, it is possible to extract and analyze DNA, which often becomes unmeasurable when sterilized by heat or chemicals.
Since calcium carbonate is a raw material for lime and is easy to handle, the research group is expected to propose a new method to analyze samples brought back from Mars etc. with crystals of calcium carbonate and then analyze.
Associate professor Yohei Suzuki of the University of Tokyo said, "It is a practical method that combines inactivation and analysis of microorganisms. I would like to use a standard method for Mars exploration in the future."