Difference between revisions of "Team:UNIK Copenhagen/Soil"
(27 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
<html> | <html> | ||
− | |||
<style> | <style> | ||
Line 10: | Line 9: | ||
} | } | ||
+ | div.container { | ||
+ | display:inline-block; | ||
+ | clear: left; | ||
+ | width:380px; | ||
+ | } | ||
+ | |||
+ | .imageboxshadow img{ | ||
+ | box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #888888; | ||
+ | -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #888888; | ||
+ | -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #888888; | ||
+ | } | ||
</style> | </style> | ||
− | |||
+ | <h2>Can Moss Grow on Martian Soil?</h2> | ||
+ | <p>Testing if moss can survive in soil similar to Martian soil is an interesting experiment for two reasons:</p> | ||
+ | <li>It would save launch mass if the moss could grow in the soil already present on Mars, although it would be possible to bring a media for the moss to grow in.</li> | ||
+ | <li> Mars soil contains perchlorate which is poisonous and moss could potentially be used to detoxify the martian soil and make it safe for astronauts.</li> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
<div class="imageboxshadow"> | <div class="imageboxshadow"> | ||
− | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/ | + | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/3c/UNIK_copenhagen_mossnatural.jpg" width=52% style="margin:0px 0px 0px 170px"></div> |
− | + | <p style="font-size:11px; margin:4px 0px 0px 170px">Mars in its natural environment. Credits to Josephine Schrøder.</p> | |
+ | <br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <h2>What is JSC Mars-1 Simulant Soil?</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>JSC Mars-1 is a Martian soil stimulant that has been developed for the study of Mars both in the context of education and scientific research. The simulant is made from soil found on Pu'u Nene, a cinder cone on the Island of Hawai'i. It was chosen for a number of reasons:</p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <li> It's spectral analogue to the bright regions on Mars</li> | ||
+ | <li>It has been characterized vigorously by other scientists</li> | ||
+ | <li>A large quantity is available for collection </li> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>JSC Mars-1 has been characterized using a number of techniques, both chemical and physical, and then compared to our knowledge of martian soil collected by various rovers on the surface of Mars. </p> | ||
+ | |||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/2/2c/UNIK_Copenhage_JSCsoil.png" width=52%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px; margin:0px 0px 0px 18px"><b>Fig 1:</b> Graphing similarity between JSC-Mars-1-Simulant and Martian soil</p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/e0/UNIK_Copenhagen_Table1.png" width=370px style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px"> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Table 1:</b> Showing chemical composition of JSC Mars-1 simuant vs Martian soil</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/2/2a/UNIK_Copenhagen_Table22.jpg" width=480px style="margin:-850px 0px 0px 0px"> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
<p> | <p> | ||
+ | <br><br> | ||
JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil comes from the sadle area between the volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Big Island Hawaii. Team member Christina Toldbo went there to visit - check out the video below.</p> | JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil comes from the sadle area between the volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Big Island Hawaii. Team member Christina Toldbo went there to visit - check out the video below.</p> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
<video width="426" height="320" controls> | <video width="426" height="320" controls> | ||
Line 36: | Line 73: | ||
Your browser doesn't support video tags | Your browser doesn't support video tags | ||
</video> | </video> | ||
− | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | <h1>Experimental Setup</h1> | ||
+ | <h2>Aim</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The aim of this experiment is to test whether moss can survive when spread over martian soil simulant: JSC Mars-1 | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2>Materials</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <li> Wild type moss | ||
+ | <li> Petri dishes | ||
+ | <li> Phys B (moss growth medium) | ||
+ | <li> Moss Blender | ||
+ | <li> Martian soil simulant; JSC Mars-1 (MS) | ||
+ | <li> Brightfield microscope | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="imageboxshadow"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/d/dc/UNIK_Copenhagen_Jonathanmicroscope.jpg" width=52%></div> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px">Using the microscope to take images of moss grown in JSC Mars-1 simulant</p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2>Method</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <li> Blend wild type moss in a moss blender</li> | ||
+ | <li> Spread wild type moss on petri dish on the following to seperate mediums: Phys B+ MS and Water + MS</li> | ||
+ | <li> Create control by spreading wild type moss on petri dish with just Phys B medium</li> | ||
+ | <li> Place petri dishes for growth under optimum growth conditions </li> | ||
+ | <li> Let moss grow for 3-4 weeks </li> | ||
+ | <li> Take images of the moss with a microscope and the following filters: </li> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/c/c1/UNIK_copenhagen_tablefilter.png" width=60%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Table 3:</b> Detailed characteristics of the two filters used on the images taken of moss</p> | ||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <h2>Results of Soil Experiment</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/a/a4/UNIK_Copenhagen_PhysB.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 1:</b> Moss growing on Phys B medium taken using UV filter </p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/84/UNIK_Copenhagen_PhysBR.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 2:</b> Moss growing on Phys B medium taken using eGFP2 filter</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/39/UNIK_Copenhagen_PhyBMSUV.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 3:</b> Moss growing on Phys B and MS taken using UV filter.</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/1/1d/UNIK_Copenhagen_PhyBMSE.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 4:</b> Moss growing on Phys B and MS taken using eGFP2 filter</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/30/UNIK_Copenhagen_waterMSUV.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 5:</b> Moss growing on water and MS taken using UV filter</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="container"> | ||
+ | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/6/62/UNIK_Copenhagen_waterMSE.jpg" width=90%> | ||
+ | <p style="font-size:11px"><b>Figure 6:</b> Moss growing on water and MS taken using eGFP2 filter.</p> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | <h2>Conclusion</h2> | ||
+ | <p>From this simple experiment, we can conclude that moss can survive when spread on JSC Mars-1 simulant. Due to the similarities of JSC Mars-1 simulant to martian soil we can conclude that there is a potential that martian soil will not kill the moss, however it should be noted that JSC Mars-1 simulant contains more water and nutrients than martian soil. It should also be taken into account that the moss was grown in optimum growth conditions that are not present on Mars, where the moss is also exposed to high UV radiation and perchlorites in the soil. However we were encouraged to atleast see some survival in the simulant.</p> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | <p><b>References:</b> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | <b>[1]</b> Carlton C. Allen, Richard V. Morris, Karen M.Jager, D. C. Golden, David J. Lindstrom, Marilyn M. Lindstrom, John P. Lockwood and Lockheed Martin, MARTIAN REGOLITH SIMULANT JSC MARS-1, Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX, http;//www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC/pdf/1690.pdf <br> | ||
</html> | </html> |
Latest revision as of 02:11, 18 September 2015
Can Moss Grow on Martian Soil?
Testing if moss can survive in soil similar to Martian soil is an interesting experiment for two reasons:
Mars in its natural environment. Credits to Josephine Schrøder.
What is JSC Mars-1 Simulant Soil?
JSC Mars-1 is a Martian soil stimulant that has been developed for the study of Mars both in the context of education and scientific research. The simulant is made from soil found on Pu'u Nene, a cinder cone on the Island of Hawai'i. It was chosen for a number of reasons:
JSC Mars-1 has been characterized using a number of techniques, both chemical and physical, and then compared to our knowledge of martian soil collected by various rovers on the surface of Mars.
Fig 1: Graphing similarity between JSC-Mars-1-Simulant and Martian soil
Table 1: Showing chemical composition of JSC Mars-1 simuant vs Martian soil
JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil comes from the sadle area between the volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Big Island Hawaii. Team member Christina Toldbo went there to visit - check out the video below.
Experimental Setup
Aim
The aim of this experiment is to test whether moss can survive when spread over martian soil simulant: JSC Mars-1Materials
Using the microscope to take images of moss grown in JSC Mars-1 simulant
Method
Table 3: Detailed characteristics of the two filters used on the images taken of moss
Results of Soil Experiment
Figure 1: Moss growing on Phys B medium taken using UV filter
Figure 2: Moss growing on Phys B medium taken using eGFP2 filter
Figure 3: Moss growing on Phys B and MS taken using UV filter.
Figure 4: Moss growing on Phys B and MS taken using eGFP2 filter
Figure 5: Moss growing on water and MS taken using UV filter
Figure 6: Moss growing on water and MS taken using eGFP2 filter.
Conclusion
From this simple experiment, we can conclude that moss can survive when spread on JSC Mars-1 simulant. Due to the similarities of JSC Mars-1 simulant to martian soil we can conclude that there is a potential that martian soil will not kill the moss, however it should be noted that JSC Mars-1 simulant contains more water and nutrients than martian soil. It should also be taken into account that the moss was grown in optimum growth conditions that are not present on Mars, where the moss is also exposed to high UV radiation and perchlorites in the soil. However we were encouraged to atleast see some survival in the simulant.
References:
[1] Carlton C. Allen, Richard V. Morris, Karen M.Jager, D. C. Golden, David J. Lindstrom, Marilyn M. Lindstrom, John P. Lockwood and Lockheed Martin, MARTIAN REGOLITH SIMULANT JSC MARS-1, Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX, http;//www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC/pdf/1690.pdf