Searching for life on Mars: selection of molecular targets for ESA's aurora ExoMars mission.
The European Space Agency's ExoMars mission will seek evidence of organic compounds of biological and non-biological origin at the martian surface. One of the instruments in the Pasteur payload may be a Life Marker Chip that utilizes an immunoassay approach to detect specific organic molecules or classes of molecules. Therefore, it is necessary to define and prioritize specific molecular targets for antibody development. Target compounds have been selected to represent meteoritic input, fossil organic matter, extant (living, recently dead) organic matter, and contamination. Once organic molecules are detected on Mars, further information is likely to derive from the detailed distribution of compounds rather than from single molecular identification. This will include concentration gradients beneath the surface and gradients from generic to specific compounds. The choice of biomarkers is informed by terrestrial biology but is wide ranging, and nonterrestrial biology may be evident from unexpected molecular distributions. One of the most important requirements is to sample where irradiation and oxidation are minimized, either by drilling or by using naturally excavated exposures. Analyzing regolith samples will allow for the search of both extant and fossil biomarkers, but sequential extraction would be required to optimize the analysis of each of these in turn.
Parnell
John
J
Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. J.Parnell@abdn.ac.uk
Cullen
David
D
Sims
Mark R
MR
Bowden
Stephen
S
Cockell
Charles S
CS
Court
Richard
R
Ehrenfreund
Pascale
P
Gaubert
Francois
F
Grant
William
W
Parro
Victor
V
Rohmer
Michel
M
Sephton
Mark
M
Stan-Lotter
Helga
H
Steele
Andrew
A
Toporski
Jan
J
Vago
Jorge
J
D018559:Exobiology / Q000379:methods*; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D018535:Mars; D013026:Space Flight / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration