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Synthetic geomicrobiology: engineering microbe–mineral interactions for space exploration and settlement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2011

Charles S. Cockell
Charles S. Cockell
Affiliation:
Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Synthetic geomicrobiology is a potentially new branch of synthetic biology that seeks to achieve improvements in microbe–mineral interactions for practical applications. In this paper, laboratory and field data are provided on three geomicrobiology challenges in space: (1) soil formation from extraterrestrial regolith by biological rock weathering and/or the use of regolith as life support system feedstock, (2) biological extraction of economically important elements from rocks (biomining) and (3) biological solidification of surfaces and dust control on other planetary surfaces. The use of synthetic or engineered organisms in these three applications is discussed. These three examples are used to extract general common principles that might be applied to the design of organisms used in synthetic geomicrobiology.

Keywords

synthetic geomicrobiologybiominingsoil formationregolithMarsmoon
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , October 2011 , pp. 315 - 324
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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