@misc{10481/91563,
year = {2023},
month = {9},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/91563},
abstract = {DNA is an incontrovertible biosignature whose sequencing aids in species identification, genome
functionality, and evolutionary relationships. To study life within the rocks of Earth and Mars, we
demonstrate, in an ISO5 clean room, a procedure based on nanopore technology that correctly
identifies organisms at picogram levels of DNA without amplification. Our study with E. coli and
S. cerevisiae DNA samples showed that MinION sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies)
can unequivocally detect and characterise microbes with as little as 2 pg of input with just 50
active nanopores. This result is an excellent advancement in sensitivity, immediately applicable
to investigating low biomass samples. This value is also at the level of possible background
contamination associated with the reagents and the environment. Cultivation of natural and heattreated
Martian analogue (MMS-2) regolith samples, exposed to atmospheric water vapour or in
increasing water concentrations, led to the extraction of 600–1000 pg of DNA from 500 mg of soil.
Applying the low detectability technology enabled through MinION sequencer for a natural low
biomass setting, we characterised the dry MMS-2 and found few soil-related organisms and airborne
contaminants. The picogram detection level and the procedure presented here, may be of interest for
the future Mars sample Return program, and the life research and planetary protection studies that
will be implemented through the sample safety assessment.},
organization = {Alan and
Norma Young Foundation and Oxford Nanopore Technologies},
organization = {Grant PID2019-104205GB-C21 funded by
MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
title = {DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-42170-6},
author = {Basapathi Raghavendra, Jyothi and Zorzano-Mier, María Paz and Kumaresan, Deepak and Martín-Torres, Javier},
}