Antarctica,
one of the world’s largest wetland. Temperatures to exceed life to survive in
that condition is almost nearly too impossible. Now going under the ice that
covers most of Antarctica, well scientist believe that no microscopic organism
is even able to live there. Well research done by a scientist from Montana
State University, John C. Priscu, “It transforms the way we view the Antarctic continent.”
Scientist believing life could exist and be harbored under the dark and cold
ice of Antarctica made it possible for the discovery of what is to be
confirmation of life.
After drilling half a mile of ice, Dr.
Priscu stated, “They saw cells under a microscope, and chemical tests showed
that the cells were alive and metabolizing energy.” Scientist Priscu noted that
they had taken every precaution possible to prevent contamination to the sample
and the lake itself. Not stating the fact that while they were checking all the
materials and equipment were free from contamination they might have missed to
check one part of the drill or another equipment used in the process might have
been forgotten to be check or not the right clothing or covers were used and
caused the scientist to find DNA samples in their discovery. A NASA senior
scientist by the name of Chris McKay said, “If it was using a local energy
source, it would be interesting,” continuing, “If it’s just consuming organics
carried in from elsewhere, it’ is of much less interesting.” Tying his belief of
the bacteria found in Lake Whillians would tie into the possibility of
extraterrestrial life. Now another leader of the science expedition, Slawek
Tulaczyk from the University of California quotes that as the samples were
drawn farther down, oxygen decreased. So noting his research and tests, Dr.
McKay’s theory would be of no help, because the microbes and bacteria found
could not have been alive and the specimen taken was said to be alive. Lake
Whillians was said to be the most researchable than the other two, three lakes
around it. Scientist were on a time frame of four days to collect any samples
they could gather in that window for four days. Another factor came in place
and that was the transportation of the drill and other equipment the scientists
needed, it would take the convoy a time of twelve days to take it 500 miles
over the Ross Ice Shelf from the American station of McMurdo. Being in a small
time frame, the possibility of error could become a factor in the discovery of
the sample found.
The article done by James Gorman,
was too biased toward the discovery of the sample being wrong in any form. Backing
up the scientist sample. It never talked about the other point and view towards
this expedition. The fact that they could only identify that the specimen found
was DNA they could not continue further their perspective of where it might
have come from. Still being open minded they will take their sample and do
further tests and research on the sample and thus putting a different view of
the ecosystem that was completely unknown in question.
Article and map picture address: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/science/living-bacteria-found-deep-under-antarctic-ice-scientists-say.html?_r=0
Picture: https://www.google.com/search?q=Antarctica&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=2JPpUs3CDLGayQG-24HoDQ&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1360&bih=683&dpr=1
