Misconceptions of Synthetic Biology: Lessons from an Interdisciplinary Summer School

In 2014, an international group of scholars from various fields analysed the "societal dimensions" of synthetic biology in an interdisciplinary summer school. Here, we report and discuss the biologists' observations on the general perception of synthetic biology by non-biologists who took part in this event. Most attendees mainly associated synthetic biology with contributions from the best-known public figures of the field, rarely mentioning other scientists. Media extrapolations of those contributions appeared to have created unrealistic expectations and irrelevant fears that were widely disconnected from the current research in synthetic biology. Another observation was that when debating developments in synthetic biology, semantics strongly mattered: depending on the terms used to present an application of synthetic biology, attendees reacted in radically different ways. For example, using the term "GMOs" (genetically modified organisms) rather than the term "genetic engineering" led to very different reactions. Stimulating debates also happened with participants having unanticipated points of view, for instance biocentrist ethicists who argued that engineered microbes should not be used for human purposes. Another communication challenge emerged from the connotations and inaccuracies surrounding the word "life", which impaired constructive debates, thus leading to misconceptions about the abilities of scientists to engineer or even create living organisms. Finally, it appeared that synthetic biologists tend to overestimate the knowledge of non-biologists, further affecting communication. The motivation and ability of synthetic biologists to communicate their work outside their research field needs to be fostered, notably towards policymakers who need a more accurate and technical understanding of the field to make informed decisions. Interdisciplinary events gathering scholars working in and around synthetic biology are an effective tool in addressing those issues

Editorial: Bioregenerative life-support systems for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars

International audienc

Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments

Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments

BOSS CYANO EXPERIMENT ON THE EXPOSE-R2 SPACE MISSION: ENHANCED SURVIVAL OF CHROOCOCCIDIOPSIS BIOFILMS TO SPACE AND SIMULATED MARS CONDITIONS COMPARED TO PLANKTONIC COUNTERPARTS

The Biofilm Organisms Surfing Space (BOSS) experiment is part of the EXPOSE-R2 space mission. In one part of the BOSS experiment three Chroococcidiopsis desert stains (CCMEE 057, CCMEE 029 and CCMEE 064), were exposed to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the dried state either as biofilms or multilayered planktonic samples. Cells were exposed for 16 months to space and Mars-like conditions outside the International Space Station. Exposure parameters included temperature variations, ionizing radiation, vacuum or simulated Martian atmosphere and pressure, and Mars-like solar UV irradiation. In parallel to exposure in LEO, replicates of the experiment were performed on the ground: Some were kept in the dark under ambient conditions, while others were exposed to stressors (extreme temperature cycles, Mars-simulated atmosphere or vacuum, and UV ux) mimicking those undergone during the EXPOSE-R2 space mission, based on data recorded in- ight. Cyanobacteria were analyzed post- ight using confocal microscopy, PCR-based assays and colony forming ability tests. Results are consistent with previous ground-based simulations of the mission1,2 and demonstrate an overall higher resistance of biofilms when compared to planktonic as suggested by their increased viability and lower amounts of DNA damage. 1. Baqué, M., Scalzi, G., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P. Billi, D. Biofilm and Planktonic Lifestyles Differently Support the Resistance of the Desert Cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis Under Space and Martian Simulations. Orig. life Evol. Biosph. 43, 377-389 (2013). 2. Baqué, M., de Vera, J.-P., Rettberg, P. Billi, D. The BOSS and BIOMEX space experiments on the EXPOSE-R2 mission: Endurance of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis under simulated space vacuum, Martian atmosphere, UVC radiation and temperature extremes. Acta Astronaut. 91, 180-186 (2013)

Unravelling the secret of the resistance of desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis to desiccation and radiation

Chroococcidiopsis is a unicellular cyanobacterial genus that is growing in extreme dry conditions, either in low or high temperatures. At the lower end of the spectrum, they live as cryptoendoliths in rocks of the Mc Murdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica where they were discovered by Imre Friedmann, while at the higher end, they grow as hypoliths/endoliths in hot deserts, e.g. Negev, Gobi, Atacama. The capacity of desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis to stabilize their sub-cellular organization is so efficient that, when dried, they can cope with simulated space and Martian conditionsas well as with high doses of ionizing and UV radiations .Chroococcidiopsi

Considerations on instruments for astrobiological investigations in a Moon/Mars laboratory

Mankind may be only decades away from establishing a long-term presence on our moon and on Mars. With the right equipment, this presence can lead to immense advances in diverse scientific fields. We here discuss how laboratories on the Moon and Mars could be equipped to answer astrobiological questions pertaining (among others) to: i) the limits for life beyond Earth, ii) the search for extraterrestrial life, iii) the origins and early development of life, iv) biological life-support systems (BLSS), and v) microbiome evolution and containment

Detection of Macromolecules in Desert Cyanobacteria Mixed with a Lunar Mineral Analogue After Space Simulations

In the context of future exposure missions in Low Earth Orbit and possibly on the Moon, two desert strains of the cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis, strains CCMEE 029 and 057, mixed or not with a lunar mineral analogue, were exposed to fractionated fluencies of UVC and polychromatic UV (200–400 nm) and to space vacuum. These experiments were carried out within the framework of the BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) project, which aims at broadening our knowledge of mineral-microorganism interaction and the stability/degradation of their macromolecules when exposed to space and simulated Martian conditions. The presence of mineral analogues provided a protective effect, preserving survivability and integrity of DNA and photosynthetic pigments, as revealed by testing colony-forming abilities, performing PCR-based assays and using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In particular, DNA and pigments were still detectable after 500 kJ/m² of polychromatic UV and space vacuum (10⁻⁴ Pa), corresponding to conditions expected during one-year exposure in Low Earth Orbit on board the EXPOSE-R2 platform in the presence of 0.1 % Neutral Density (ND) filter. After exposure to high UV fluencies (800 MJ/m²) in the presence of minerals, however, altered fluorescence emission spectrum of the photosynthetic pigments were detected, whereas DNA was still amplified by PCR. The present paper considers the implications of such findings for the detection of biosignatures in extraterrestrial conditions and for putative future lunar missions