A breakthrough study has revealed living microbes in the Atacama Desert, thanks to a new DNA separation technique. This discovery holds significant implications for our understanding of life in extreme environments.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in what was once thought to be one of the most inhospitable places on Earth — the Atacama Desert. Known as the driest place on the planet, the Atacama stretches along Chile’s Pacific Coast and offers a harsh environment where survival seems almost impossible. Yet, defying all odds, researchers have identified active microbial communities thriving in its soils.
The Atacama Desert presents an environment so extreme that studying the microbial life hidden within its sands posed a significant challenge. Traditional DNA extraction methods often failed to distinguish between the genetic material of living, dormant or dead organisms.
Now, a team of international researchers, led by Dirk Wagner, a geomicrobiologist at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, has developed a pioneering technique to overcome this obstacle.
The innovative technique, detailed in an article published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, separates extracellular DNA (eDNA), which originates from dead cells, from intracellular DNA (iDNA) derived from living cells.
This breakthrough allows scientists to gain unprecedented insights into microbial life in low-biomass environments like the Atacama. The process involves multiple cycles of gentle rinsing, effectively filtering intact cells from other DNA fragments in the soil, ensuring more accurate data on live microorganisms.
By applying this method to samples collected across the desert — from the Pacific Ocean’s edge to the Andes’ foothills — the researchers discovered not just the presence of microbes, but a bustling, dynamic microbial ecosystem.
Notably, they found abundant Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in all samples, within both eDNA and iDNA groups. Lively microbial activities were especially evident in samples taken from depths of less than five centimeters, where bacteria from the Chloroflexota group predominated.
“Microbes are the pioneers colonizing this kind of environment and preparing the ground for the next succession of life,” Wagner said in a news release.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the Atacama Desert. Similar techniques could be employed in post-disaster zones, like areas affected by earthquakes or landslides, where the microbial groundwork is crucial for ecological recovery.
Wagner’s team plans to delve deeper into the microbial dynamics by conducting metagenomic sequencing on the iDNA samples. These efforts will provide more nuanced insights into the functioning and composition of microbial communities in extreme conditions, potentially opening new avenues for understanding life’s resilience in the harshest environments.
“By studying iDNA, you can get deeper insights into the real active part of the community,” Wagner concluded.
This landmark discovery in the Atacama Desert not only challenges our perceptions of where life can exist but also inspires future explorations into the microbial frontier, transforming our understanding of life’s adaptability and tenacity.