Existence of life under the cold and dark Antarctic possible?

  

                                            

   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