Microorganisms who live on large plates of ancient seabed in the Gulf Persia is said to be able to provide clues related to life in the planet another.
Researchers from Arizona State University studied the Samal Ophiolite area off the coast of Oman. This large plate of oceanic crust is made of volcanic rock and ultramafic rock of the Earth’s upper mantle.
These rocks exhibit a unique geological process called serpentinization. In this process, water reacts with rock to create hydrogen gas which is oxidized by microorganisms.
“It is believed that a process such as serpentinization may exist throughout the universe, and evidence has been found that it may occur on Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus,” said study lead author Alta Howells.
The researchers investigated microorganisms known as methanogens. These microorganisms produce methane by oxidizing hydrogen gas with carbon dioxide. These organisms are simple life forms that probably evolved earlier on Earth.
Studying the biodiversity of the ecosystems hosted by serpentinization could help researchers better understand the possibility of life on other planets. Researchers may also develop instruments that can detect life in marine worlds beyond Earth.
Analysis of serpentinized fluids present in Samal Ophiolite revealed that methanogens may not be supported in all ecosystems where serpentinization occurs. In contrast, organisms that reduce sulfate for energy may be prevalent. However, these organisms do not produce methane.
The researchers say these insights will prove to help develop appropriate instrumentation to search for life beyond Earth.
“Energy requirements are fundamental to all life on Earth. If we can develop a simple model with energy supply as a parameter to predict the occurrence and activity of life on Earth, we can apply this model in studies of other marine worlds,” Howells said.
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