Development of the firefly bioluminescent assay for the rapid, quantitative detection of microbial contamination of water. AMRL-TR-67-71.
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Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Biomedical subjects
G V Levin
Publications and source records attributed to G V Levin.
Gulliver and Diogenes--exobiological antitheses.
Gulliver field test results in extreme natural environments are presented. A proposed new exobiology experiment, based on the detection of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), is described with laboratory results. Significant responses were obtained from the Gulliver field tests in approximately one hour. Responses were even more pronounced when the radioactive medium was applied directly to the soil. In the new life detection experiment, the firefly bioluminescent reaction is used to assay for micro-gamma quantities of microbial ATP, a compound ubiquitous in terrestrial life. Gulliver and the ATP experiment, named Diogenes, represent complimentary antitheses in extraterrestrial life detection. The former is general and the latter specific. Theoretical considerations are proposed as guidelines for extraterrestrial life detection experiments.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
"Gulliver", an experiment for extraterrestrial life detection and analysis.
Based on the probability that extraterrestrial life is biochemically somewhat similar to life on Earth, a life detection experiment is being prepared to explore Mars. The experiment will be performed by an automated device which will carry a microbiological medium being developed to support a wide range of earth microorganisms. Selected ingredients of the medium will be labeled with radioactive isotopes. A sticky string, shot out from and reeled back into the device, will gather a sample of the Martian soil. It is hoped the radioactive atoms in the compounds will be metabolized by the unknown organisms in the soil and evolved in a labelled gas. The gas will be collected by a chemical "getter" and the radioactivity measured for transmission to Earth. A positive response from the test unit and a negative, or lesser, response from a poisoned control unit would constitute evidence of life. The device can also differentiate between photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic metabolic activity. Data from field tests on Earth are presented.
Carbon Dioxide↗
The Mars oxidant experiment (MOx) for Mars '96.
The MOx instrument was developed to characterize the reactive nature of the martian soil. The objectives of MOx were: (1) to measure the rate of degradation of organics in the martian environment; (2) to determine if the reactions seen by the Viking biology experiments were caused by a soil oxidant and measure the reactivity of the soil and atmosphere: (3) to monitor the degradation, when exposed to the martian environment, of materials of potential use in future missions; and, finally, (4) to develop technologies and approaches that can be part of future soil analysis instrumentation. The basic approach taken in the MOx instrument was to place a variety of materials composed as thin films in contact with the soil and monitor the physical and chemical changes that result. The optical reflectance of the thin films was the primary sensing-mode. Thin films of organic materials, metals, and semiconductors were prepared. Laboratory simulations demonstrated the response of thin films to active oxidants.
Electron Probe Microanalysis↗