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Application of Cyanobacteria in Space
Introduction
Cyanobacteria are microscopic unicellular bacteria rich in chemical diversity and obtain their energy from photosynthesis. The bluish pigment known as phycocyanin contains chlorophyll and detains light from photosynthesis. This shows that cyanobacteria can manufacture their food. By creating oxygen as photosynthesis by-product, cyanobacteria became the game-changer that later caused multicellular and proliferation organisms. As a result, enabling animal life here in the world. Additionally, cyanobacteria also became the first bacteria on planet earth to invent photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria has endured many years, thus becoming a genetic diversity widespread in many parts of the world, be it on water or land. This paper will, therefore, discuss the cyanobacteria application in the space.
Literature Review
Cyanobacteria significance in Nitrogen Cycle
Cyanobacteria has a significant role in promoting the growth of organisms and also enabling the growth of many plants. As mentioned, from the history records, they are part of the few organism groups with the ability to transform inert atmospheric nitrogen to organic form, including ammonia, also known as nitrate. Notably, plants need these fixed nitrogen forms for their growth, which they get from the soil. Fertilizers are of great importance given that they contain attached supplements of nitrogen, which consequently helps plants to absorb by their roots. Most importantly, nitrification cannot happen in the existence of oxygen; as such, nitrogen is tied on specific cells known as heterocysts. Heterocyst cells, in particular, have thick walls that comprise an anaerobic environment. Legumes, among other plants, have created a symbiotic relationship with nitrifying bacteria thereon, developing specialized tissues at the stems and roots up to bacteria’s house consequent for organic nitrogen. To this end, this is of great importance to rice cultivation since Azolla, and the floating fern is distributed actively between the rice paddies. Cyanobacterium Anabaena of the fern houses colonies is found in the leaves from which it fixes the nitrogen. Eventually, the economy, natural nitrogen, and fertilizers become the basis for rice plants when plants expire. Cyanobacteria form a symbiotic relationship with several fungi, henceforth creating multifaceted interdependent organisms called lichens.
Cyanobacteria Under Low Earth Orbit Conditions
Due to the immense damaging result produced by space vacuum in dryness, the space environment which contains organisms happen to be dry resistant, thus repairing gathered damage upon rescue (Billi et al. P. 81). Additionally, due to the harsh radiation environment in the space as a result of Galactic Cosmic Radiation and Solar, it leads to a potential correlation between dryness and radiation tolerance (Musilova et al., P. 1080). As a result of high aridity and resistance of radiation, cyanobacteria consequently meet all conditions to survive in space exposure. Accordingly, Cyanobacteria’s first space experiment was done in 1994 onboard ESA’s BIOPAN-I facility, and with it had halophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus (Nägeli). Nägeli occupied gypsum halite gemstones from the maritime intertidal zone in the Baja California coast in Mexico. In 2007, endolithic and epilithic cyanobacteria in communities living in rocks experienced a space environment. Later in 10 days, one Gloeocapsa, which was similar to cyanobacteria, was chosen in a sample from limestone in the coast. With the easiness and ability to acquire samples, Chroococcidiopsis cells got inoculated in the rocks where the light was accessible for photosynthesis. Eventually, its survival was tested to determine its re-entry into the atmosphere using the theory of lithopanspermia. EXPOSE-E results displayed that the survival of cyanobacteria could stay more in space by 548 days (Billi et al., P.81-82).
Other than Earth, Mars is regarded as an essential target place for discovering life. NASA’s recent studies show mar’s potential of life existence exceeds habitability, as sedimentary rocks are found on that planet. Accordingly, the presence of these rocks demonstrates that there are surface conditions to protect and provide robust biological dormant organisms. In this regard, if there is life in mars, photosynthesis independence has considerably contributed to the existence of life as it can survive on harsh conditions in the surface where there is the presence of solar light even. Given that mars do not have an inherent magnetic field, the act of ionizing energy of the galactic and solar cosmic rays (GCRs and SCRs) and energetic solar protons (SEP), reaches extra-terrestrial high energies with surface and sub-surface (Billi, Daniela et al. P. 138-139). The additional radiation resistance of the desert of cyanobacteria consequently exceeds the potential imagination of Martin biosphere. The radiation resistance in dormant dry conditions and the presence of low temperatures would, however, contribute to the interaction of mechanism protection among radiation and dryness resistance (Musilova et al. 2015, P.1076).
Cyanobacterium-Based Life-Support Systems in Space and on Earth
As mentioned, cyanobacteria adapt in extreme climate conditions mostly on terrestrial deserts, which makes them comfortable to fit in life support systems for the future with elements covered by mar’s purpose (Verseux et al. P.67). Therefore, scientists need to be financially stable to explore how lives exist from the other earth as compared to sending items to determine life. While the usage of biological systems that is microorganisms and plants mostly are quite essential, but the same can also happen in genetic engineering. However, most microorganisms are not able to meet Martian resources. Thus by directing substrates from the planet to sustain metabolism would considerably lower sustainability and cost-effectiveness of playing the role of cultivation. Nonetheless, resources desired for the growth of particular cyanobacteria accessible in mass survive based on their lithotrophic life-styles, photosynthetic abilities, and nitrogen-fixing activities (Billi, Daniela et al. P.133-147). These capabilities can be used in different applications comprising of the production of fuel, oxygen, and food, while indirectly based on the culture of the product supporting the growth of other microorganisms. That way, the activity of procreation leads to supporting diverse life-supporting biological processes aligning with Martian resources. For instance, Lynn Rothschild led a project known as PowerCell, which had engineered Anabaena Sp. Secretes strains were used to give food to Bacillus subtilis with no need for disrupting cyanobacterial scheduled to satellite mission was to be launched in 2017. The philosophies were expected to be moved from planet earth to establish sustainable industrial processes found on the water, carbon dioxide, minerals, and solar energy. The application of these systems has immense benefits, including ecological and economical, but for the developed countries. In contrast, less developed countries would greatly benefit from increasing the biodiversity of microorganisms since they have these elements.
Concluding Remarks
Cyanobacterial endolithic and hypothec elements happen in hot and cold deserts, often known as mars analogues. At these places, life is brought forth by an extreme lack of water as well as high attitudes through cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria lie under the first category of microorganisms, which inhabited earth in the past years and continues to shape earth and mars. Currently, cyanobacteria are considered necessary since it is a rich source of biofuels and nutrients that provide life to inhabitable places.
Work Cited
Billi, Daniela et all. (2017). Desert Cyanobacteria: Potential for Space and Earth Applications. 10.1007/978-3-319-48327-6_6. P.133-147.
Billi, Daniela et al. “Cyanobacteria from Extreme Deserts to Space.” Advances in Microbiology, vol 03, no. 06, 2013, pp. 80-86. Scientific Research Publishing, Inc, doi:10.4236/aim.2013.36a010.
Musilova, Michaela et al. “Isolation of Radiation-Resistant Bacteria from Mars Analog Antarctic Dry Valleys by Preselection, And The Correlation Between Radiation and Desiccation Resistance.” Astrobiology, vol 15, no. 12, 2015, pp. 1076-1090. Mary Ann Liebert Inc, doi:10.1089/ast.2014.1278.
Verseux, Cyprien et al. “Sustainable Life Support On Mars – The Potential Roles of Cyanobacteria.” International Journal of Astrobiology, vol 15, no. 1, 2016, pp. 65-92. Cambridge University Press (CUP), doi:10.1017/s147355041500021x.