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ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR INVESTIGATING LIFE PROCESSES IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS.   C. N. Jayarajah and M. Thompson, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada

     In preparing for missions to Mars, it is important to consider the effect of planetary conditions and space travel on the complex mechanisms of life.  It is thus crucial to study the genomic code along with gene transcription in light of life in extreme conditions.  The acoustic wave sensor is presented here as a tool to investigate the effect of space exploration factors such as gravity, light and radiation on gene transcription.  Our results to date indicate that the thickness shear mode (TSM) acoustic wave sensor is an effective biosensor for distinguishing varying degrees of binding interactions with the promoter DNA and subsequent mRNA synthesis.  Furthermore, in searching for signatures of life in extreme environments on earth or on extraterrestrial worlds, it is important to consider the chemical nature of the environment.  Consequently, we have begun to study the chemistry of soil and water in Devon Island in Nunavut, Canada as a Mars analog site.  The chemical analysis of the Haughton crater area in the Canadian High Arctic is presented along with results of DNA isolation from soil, water and rock samples.  Our results show that the Arctic terrain is poor in all sources of nitrogen, phosphates, sulfur and iron.  However, we find significant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in soil and water samples, a discovery compatible with the dominating presence of dolomite in the region.  We hope to be able to understand the impact of the geological history of the Haughton crater on the chemistry of its environment, and consequently, on the life forms that prevail there today as well as evidence for past or present life such as nucleic acids in the area.