What can you infer about the ISS bacteria?

What can you infer about the ISS bacteria?

Summary: Two particularly tenacious species of bacteria have colonized the potable water dispenser aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but a new study suggests that they are no more dangerous than closely related strains on Earth.

What bacteria was found in space?

The bacterial strains found as part of this study all belong to the family Methylobacteriaceae, and they were spotted all over the space station during two consecutive flights.

What happens to bacteria in outer space?

Scientists think that bacteria come out of hiding once in outer space. In a sterile environment without other organisms around, they multiply and thrive. Instead of killing them, cosmic radiation may also help them to mutate. They may be able to grow faster than they normally could on Earth.

How does bacteria live in space?

Outer space is not friendly to life. Extreme temperatures, low pressure and radiation can quickly degrade cell membranes and destroy DNA. Balls of Deinococcus bacteria as thin as five sheets of paper were placed on the outside of the International Space Station. They stayed there for three years.

What happens to bacteria in space?

In space, bacteria seem to become more resistant to antibiotics and more lethal. They also stay this way for a short time after returning to Earth, compared with bacteria that never left Earth. Adding to that, bacteria also seem to mutate quicker in space.

What is the new bacteria found?

The research team — led by Swati Bijlani, a geneticist at the University of Southern California — has proposed calling the new bacteria species Methylobacterium ajmalii after Ajmal Khan, a renowned Indian biodiversity scientist. This new species is closely related to an existing species named Methylobacterium indicum.

Do bacteria survive in space?

“Bacteria from Earth can survive in space and could endure the trip to Mars, according to new study”. CNN News.

Can bacteria exist in space?

Can spores survive in space?

If shielded against solar ultraviolet (UV)-radiation, up to 80 \% of spores in multilayers survive in space. However, up to 10(4) viable spores were still recovered, even in completely unprotected samples.

Where are the new bacteria found in the International Space Station?

The new bacteria were similarly identified from swabs of various locations inside the ISS. One was discovered on a dining table; another on an overhead panel in a research area used to study low gravity; the third in the Cupola observatory.

Can bacteria survive the harsh conditions of space?

Previous studies had suggested that certain resilient strains of bacteria could survive the harsh conditions of space, including dried pellets of Deinococcus bacteria – listed in the Guinness World Records as the world’s toughest – which survived on the space station’s surface for three years.

How do astronauts get to the International Space Station?

They’re most likely to have been transferred to the ISS from Earth – rather than coming from outer space – and have either survived since the station’s inception, or were introduced when new astronauts or payloads arrived.

Could bacteria found in rice help us grow crops in space?

The other three had never previously been identified, but genetic and taxonomic analysis suggests they are related to Methylobacterium indicum, a bacterium sometimes found on rice grains. The researchers said the bacteria may provide “biotechnologically useful genetic determinants” for the growing of crops in space.