A 2 billion year old water sample can contain organisms

The scientists discovered microbiological-like structures in water samples taken from a depth of 3.2km below the gold mine in Free State province.

Preliminary analysis results of water samples were published at a conference of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco last week. They have temperatures up to 53 degrees Celsius. This is thought to be the threshold of tolerance of living organisms. This amount of water also lacks nutrients on the ground and is 7 times more saline than seawater. The chemical composition of water may be similar to that of Mars.

Objects like microorganisms in water.(Photo: Sun).

Observing water under a microscope, the researchers saw oblong objects resembling bacteria or other microorganisms . An even narrower middle object, like a cell, is in the process of splitting. These water samples may have been isolated for 2 billion years from living creatures trapped inside.

"It is possible they have been isolated for a very long time. This is a unique opportunity to observe evolutionary life in an isolated sphere , " said Devan Nisson, an expert at Princeton University, a member of the team. help, said.

However, it is also possible that what the team of scientists observed was only minerals. To determine if they are living, they will try to take analytical samples to see if they contain DNA.

If so, the team will continue to analyze the DNA to determine whether these creatures were trapped billions of years ago or were accidentally mined down from the ground. In the water sample, they also discovered organic acids that can provide the carbon needed for life, the nitrates and sulfates that some cells use to generate energy.

In the absence of living organisms, the water samples can help the team find out if life can survive in such a harsh environment. This will be useful for the process of finding life on Mars.

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