Understanding Preservation of Potential Biosignatures by Martian Soils with the aid of Molecular Simulations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
The adsorption and preservation of amino acids by clay minerals will be studied using molecular dynamics simulations, to give insight into the preservation of potential biosignatures. An automated routing simulation sampling of interactions between amino acids and various Martian minerals under an array of environmental conditions will be performed, the results will be statistically analysed to infer the composition of a peptide that may be synthesised from adsorbed amino acids on the clay. This will allow us to identify proto-biosignatures from a real ones that may be found on Mars or other extraterrestrial bodies, using relatively simple instruments in-situ.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Valentina Erastova (Primary Supervisor) | |
Sarah Stewart (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NE/S007407/1 | 25/09/2019 | 30/09/2027 | |||
2871256 | Studentship | NE/S007407/1 | 01/09/2023 | 28/02/2027 | Sarah Stewart |