The Viking Biological Investigation: Preliminary Results
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-1976
Abstract
Three different types of biological experiments on samples of martian surface material ("soil") were conducted inside the Viking lander. In the carbon assimilation or pyrolytic release experiment, $^{14}$CO$_{2}$ and $^{14}$CO were exposed to soil in the presence of light. A small amount of gas was found to be converted into organic material. Heat treatment of a duplicate sample prevented such conversion. In the gas exchange experiment, soil was first humidified (exposed to water vapor) for 6 sols and then wet with a complex aqueous solution of metabolites. The gas above the soil was monitored by gas chromatography. A substantial amount of O$_{2}$ was detected in the first chromatogram taken 2.8 hours after humidification. Subsequent analyses revealed that significant increases in CO$_{2}$ and only small changes in N$_{2}$ had also occurred. In the labeled release experiment, soil was moistened with a solution containing several $^{14}$C-labeled organic compounds. A substantial evolution of radioactive gas was registered, but did not occur with a duplicate heat-treated sample. Alternative chemical and biological interpretations are possible for these preliminary data. The experiments are still in process, and these results so far do not allow a decision regarding the existence of life on the planet Mars.
Original Publication Citation
Harold P. Klein, Norman H. Horowitz, Gilbert V. Levin, Vance I. Oyama, Joshua Lederberg, Alexander Rich, Jerry S. Hubbard, George L. Hobby, Patricia A. Straat, Bonnie J. Berdahl, Glenn C. Carle, Frederick S. Brown and Richard D. Johnson.
"The Viking Biological Investigation: Preliminary Results." Science 194(4260):99-105.
Digital Commons @ LMU & LLS Citation
Klein, Harold P.; Horowitz, Norman H.; Levin, Gilbert V.; Oyama, Vance I.; Lederberg, Joshua; Rich, Alexander; Hubbard, Jerry S.; Lobby, George L.; Straat, Patricia A.; Berdahl, Bonnie J.; Carle, Glenn C.; Brown, Frederick S.; and Johnson, Richard D., "The Viking Biological Investigation: Preliminary Results" (1976). Systems Engineering Faculty Works. 4.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/systengg_fac/4
