Yeast can survive Martian environment: IISc

YEAST, an indispensable ingredient in making bread, beer, and biotech products, has the resilience to withstand harsh conditions found in the Martian environment, a new study by researchers from the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and collaborators at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, have found.

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The team exposed yeast cells to high-intensity shock waves — similar to those produced by meteorite impacts on Mars — and perchlorate salts, which are toxic chemicals found in Martian soil. Using a High-Intensity Shock Tube for Astro-chemistry (HISTA) in Bhalamurugan Sivaraman’s lab at PRL, they simulated shock waves reaching Mach 5.6 intensity. The team also treated yeast cells with 100 millimolar, or mM (a unit of concentration), sodium perchlorate either in isolation or in combination with the shockwaves, according to IISc on Friday.