‘Conan the Bacterium’ could have been the origin of life on Earth

Brazilian scientists discovered that a microbe dubbed "Conan the Bacterium" is so tough it could withstand space travel, leading them to suggest such organisms could have been the origin of life on Earth.

They subjected the bug, Deinococcus radiodurans, to powerful radiation, freezing temperatures and a vacuum chamber, all designed to simulate conditions found on meteorites and other rocks in space.

Such conditions would instantly destroy almost any known organism, but the D. radiodurans colonies proved capable not just of surviving but of regenerating when conditions returned to normal.

Researchers suggested such powers make the bug, or a similar organism, a potential candidate for spreading life between planets in the early days of the solar system.

D. radiodurans, which has a red, spherical shape, was discovered five decades ago after a can of corned beef went rotten despite having been sterilised by radiation. The durability of the microbe has only just been realised.

The most likely explanation for the germ's toughness is that each bug possesses four to 10 copies of its genome, rather than the usual single version. It also has a highly efficient repair system, so even if the DNA is ripped apart by radiation, bits can easily be spliced together again.

via ‘Conan the Bacterium’ could have been the origin of life on Earth.