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6.5 Microbiology

Four persons dressed in white lab coats, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and masks
The “clean team” wears disposable protective coverall suits and other PPE (personal protective equipment) in preparation for collecting microbiology samples from an upcoming core (Credit: Renata G. Lucchi &IODP, MerlinOne Photo Archive, CC BY 4.0)

 

life detectors: Microbiology on the JR

Microbiologists investigate the deep biosphere, where microbial life has been discovered. They identify all life forms from retrieved cellular material, measure the growth rate of bacteria and support the drilling team by measuring the amount of possible drilling fluid contamination.

An image of a dark sediment background. Encased in the sediment is the cross section of a coiled snail-like shell. In one part of the coil, sits some dark material. A label points to this portion of the shell and says "Collected Sample." An adjacent image shows a person in white protective clothing with a blue mask and dark blue gloves. This person is leaning over a dark surface, presumably a lab bench. To the left of the person is a white metal storage box.
A. The sampled, dark organic remains of a gastropod shell in a core B. Microbiologist collecting the sample wearing protective clothing to avoid contamination of the sample (Credit: Knutz, P.C., Jennings, A.E., Childress, L.B., and the Expedition 400 Scientists).

Microbiologists aboard the JOIDES Resolution also explored the origins and roles of life on Earth, and beyond. Watch this video to learn more about the JR’s research in this exciting field.

In this Spotlight, biologist Dr. Elizabeth Sibert reflects on how working with coral-rich, century-old sea sediment cores as an undergraduate led her to recognize that biology and ecosystems are not fixed. They change over time and can be tracked in the sediment layers. She also shares insights into her current research and her experiences aboard the JR.

SciOD Spotlight:  The “Biology Side”

 

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Scientific Ocean Drilling: Exploration and Discovery through Time Copyright © 2024 by Laura Guertin; Elizabeth Doyle; and Tessa Peixoto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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