{"id":2319,"date":"2026-09-24T03:39:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T00:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/?p=2319"},"modified":"2026-09-24T17:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:44:47","slug":"microbiological-surprises-of-extraterrestrial-life-reverse-panspermia-terrestrial-microorganisms-can-colonize-outer-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/2026\/09\/24\/microbiological-surprises-of-extraterrestrial-life-reverse-panspermia-terrestrial-microorganisms-can-colonize-outer-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Microbiological surprises of extraterrestrial life: reverse panspermia. Terrestrial microorganisms can colonize outer space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cosmic rays and aggressive environments don’t kill microorganisms; they even maintain an active metabolism that “heals” mutations. This gives rise to the hypothesis of reverse panspermia: terrestrial microorganisms could “conquer” space and become the origin of life on other planets. On the other hand, early life on Earth functioned in conditions so different from modern ones that they could seem almost alien. Studying these systems helps us understand not only where life might exist, but also what it might be like.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Past<\/span><\/h2>\n

Experiments have confirmed that there are living organisms outside the ISS whose DNA remains unchanged despite harsh conditions, including cosmic radiation, RIA Novosti was told by the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (JSC TsNIIMash), the leading research institute of the Roscosmos State Corporation.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, the findings include representatives of typical terrestrial and marine bacteria, including inhabitants of the Barents Sea and the soil of Madagascar. This indicates the presence of “ascending transport” of bacterial DNA from the troposphere to the ionosphere: living organisms at an altitude of 400 km are not random inhabitants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cosmic rays and aggressive environments don’t kill microorganisms; they even maintain an active metabolism that “heals” mutations, scientists explained. This raises the hypothesis of reverse panspermia: terrestrial microorganisms could “conquer” space and become the source of life on other planets.<\/span><\/p>\n

With NASA support, scientists have reconstructed an enzyme first used by organisms on Earth 3.2 billion years ago, and in the process confirmed the presence of a chemical biosignature in rocks used to study ancient life on Earth. The study provides new insights into the Earth’s biosphere during the early stages of our planet’s history and confirms a robust biosignature that robotic and manned explorers can use to search for signs of ancient life on other planets.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A study published in the journal Nature Communications on January 22, 2026, examines a type of metabolism called nitrogen fixation, or diazotrophy. This process converts biologically unusable nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere into molecules that all living organisms use for survival.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

On Earth, there exists a select group of organisms, called diazotrophs, capable of nitrogen fixation. This group is a diverse group of bacteria (as well as several archaea and eukaryotes) found on various branches of the tree of life. Some diazotrophs are free-living organisms that fix nitrogen as part of their daily lives. Others are symbiotic and survive in partnership with other organisms, living in places such as plant roots, lichens, fungi, and even the guts of termites and woodworms.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nIsotopes are different forms of the same element. Each form has the same number of protons in the nucleus but a different number of neutrons. Nitrogen in the atmosphere occurs primarily as nitrogen-14 (7 neutrons and 99.6337% of atmospheric nitrogen) and nitrogen-15 (8 neutrons and only 0.3663% of atmospheric nitrogen). Biological processes, such as nitrogen fixation, primarily use nitrogen-14. NASA\/Aaron Gronstal<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What unites this diverse group of organisms is the presence of an enzyme called nitrogenase. This enzyme enables them to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into compounds needed to build some of life’s most essential molecules, such as proteins and DNA. Specifically, they convert diatomic nitrogen (N\u2082) into biologically useful forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia (NH\u2083), thereby allowing nitrogen to enter the food chain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, every organism throughout the Earth’s biosphere depends on diazotrophs, which provide us with all the nitrogen we need to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because nitrogen fixation is crucial for life as we know it, scientists believe that nitrogenase must have arisen early in the history of life, at a time when only single-celled microorganisms existed.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Early life on Earth operated in conditions so different from today’s that they might have seemed almost alien,” says Bet\u00fcl Ka\u00e7ar, director of the Ka\u00e7ar Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With NASA support, Ka\u00e7ar and her team are working to understand the history of life on a planetary scale and the potential for life in the universe by reconstructing extinct biochemical processes used by ancient organisms. “Studying these systems helps us understand not only where life might exist, but also what it might be like.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Details of early life on Earth remain unclear, as the fossils left by microorganisms in the geologic record can be ambiguous or difficult to identify. However, when nitrogen from the atmosphere is fixed, it is altered slightly in ways that scientists can detect. The isotopic composition of the nitrogen atoms within a diazotroph changes. Over time, as the microorganisms die, this altered nitrogen is incorporated into rocks. Sediments are deposited, buried, compressed, worn down, and mixed throughout the Earth’s ages. And yet, even after billions of years, scientists can still identify the isotopic composition of the nitrogen left by ancient diazotrophs in the geologic record.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nPredicted three-dimensional structures of the ancient DDKK nitrogenase complex, from ancient to modern forms. University of Wisconsin-Madison\/Holly Rucker<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

By studying the isotopic composition of nitrogen, scientists can thus determine when nitrogenase enzymes first appeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past, questions have been raised about the accuracy of using nitrogen isotopes as biosignatures. Like life itself, enzymes evolve over time. As environmental conditions on Earth change, enzymes change at the molecular level. The original nitrogenase was likely smaller and less complex than the version we see in modern organisms. This means that the nitrogen isotope signatures left by ancient nitrogenase enzymes may differ from those we see today.<\/span><\/p>\n

To address the question of whether nitrogen isotopes could truly be used as a reliable biomarker, the team applied synthetic biology techniques to recreate possible ancient versions of the enzyme. They reverse-engineered modern nitrogenase, gradually peeling back layers of evolution to reveal simpler versions of the enzyme that may have existed long ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

A study was then conducted on the behavior of older versions of the enzyme when introduced into living microorganisms. It was found that the nitrogen isotopic composition remained unchanged for billions of years. The results demonstrate that the isotopic characteristics of nitrogen fixation in Earth’s oldest rocks do indeed reflect the activity of early life.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When we look back in time, we see that the DNA sequences of these ancient nitrogenases are very different from modern nitrogenases,” said Holly Rucker, a graduate student in Casar’s lab and lead author of the paper. “We also see that the enzyme’s structure changes with age. However, we found that despite these differences in sequence and structure, these ancient enzymes still perform the same chemical reactions as their modern descendants.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The team’s collection of synthetic genes also represents various versions of nitrogenase that have existed over two billion years of evolutionary history. This helps fill gaps in our knowledge of how nitrogenase has changed over time and what ancient nitrogen-fixing organisms were like.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nHolly Rucker examines a petri dish in a laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. University of Wisconsin-Madison\/Holly Rucker<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“This study demonstrates how resilient nitrogenase (and its associated nitrogen isotopic signature) is to changes at both the enzyme sequence level and the planetary environment,” explains Rucker. “The fact that ancestral nitrogenases produce the same isotopic profile across billions of years of molecular changes and under the conditions of abrupt environmental changes on Earth truly highlights the potential of nitrogen isotopes as a biosignature. Another key aspect of this work is that it provides further support for our interpretation of the oldest nitrogenase signatures in the Earth’s geologic record, which is important for understanding the timing of the emergence of critical metabolic processes like nitrogen fixation on Earth.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Since nitrogen fixation is an important part of biology on Earth, this research may also provide clues to the mystery of life beyond our planet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

“If we want to see life beyond Earth, we can’t limit ourselves to life as we know it today,” Kachar said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that scientists have confirmed the possibility of using nitrogen isotopes as a biosignature of ancient life on Earth, the same method could potentially be applied to other rocky worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Confirmed biosignatures like nitrogen isotopes provide us with a powerful tool for planetary exploration and accessing lost biological history,” said Kachar. “If similar signals are detected on Mars or other rocky worlds, they could indicate ancient metabolisms that once supported life in very different conditions. Studying these systems helps us understand not only where life might exist, but also what it might be like.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Future<\/span><\/h2>\n

What about re-arranging the human genome? Our genome is all the DNA present in our cells. Since 2011, it has become possible to easily and precisely edit genomes. First, the molecular tool Crispr-Cas9 was developed, which has been used, among other things, on the International Space Station. Then came base and prime editing methods, which can make minute changes to the genome of any living organism.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The potential of gene editing for long-distance travel is virtually limitless. One of the most serious dangers astronauts will face in deep space is increased radiation exposure, which can disrupt many bodily processes and increase the long-term risk of cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps, using genome editing, scientists could introduce plant and bacterial genes into the human body that could neutralize radiation from radioactive waste spills and fallout. It sounds like science fiction, but prominent thinkers believe it’s the key to our progress through the solar system.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nA microscopic image of a tardigrade. STEVE GSHMEISSNER\/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY\/Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Identifying and subsequently introducing genes into the human body that slow aging and prevent cellular damage could also help. It’s also possible to develop crops resistant to radiation, since crews will have to grow their own food, and to personalize medications tailored to the needs of astronauts, taking into account their genetic characteristics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tardigrades are microscopic animals sometimes called “water bears.” Experiments have shown that these tiny creatures can withstand extreme temperatures, pressure, high radiation, and starvation. They can even survive the vacuum of space.<\/span><\/p>\n

Geneticists are eager to understand their genomes, and a paper published in Nature in 2025 attempted to uncover the key genes and proteins that provide these miniature creatures with such extraordinary stress resistance. If some of these genes could be introduced into crops, they could be made resistant to the highest levels of radiation and environmental stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even more intriguing is the question of whether introducing tardigrade genes into the human genome could make it more resilient to the harsh conditions of space. Scientists have already demonstrated that, in laboratory conditions, human cells developed increased tolerance to X-ray radiation after introducing tardigrade genes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nKate Rubins was the first person to sequence DNA in space. NASA<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Transferring genes from tardigrades is just one hypothetical example of how humans and crops could be modified to make them more adapted to space travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced the creation of the first gene-edited babies. He introduced a gene conferring resistance to HIV infection into unborn twins. He was subsequently imprisoned. However, he was later released and allowed to resume his research.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the new space race, some countries may take far more radical measures in the field of genome editing than others, especially in the West, where restrictions are already severe. The winner will reap enormous scientific and economic benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> Comment on Facebook* The owner of the Meta company is recognized as extremist in Russia and is banned.<\/span><\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cosmic rays and aggressive environments don’t kill microorganisms; they even maintain an active metabolism that “heals” mutations. This gives rise to the hypothesis of reverse panspermia: terrestrial microorganisms could “conquer” space and become the origin of life on other planets. On the other hand, early life on Earth functioned in conditions so different from modern ones that they could seem almost alien. Studying these systems helps us understand not only where life might exist, but also what it might be like.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,993,546,40],"tags":[375,470,817,1022],"class_list":{"0":"post-2319","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-geliobiology","8":"category-astrobiology","9":"category-earthsorbit","10":"category-kosmos","11":"tag-dna","12":"tag-microorganisms","13":"tag-nitrogen","14":"tag-nitrogenase"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2319"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2330,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319\/revisions\/2330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}