Life on Mars! In the LSC-Montgomery Biotechnology Lab

Lone Star College Montgomery News

Published on: November 18, 2015





On the heels of the release of the science fiction filmThe
Martianand NASAs confirmation of water on mars, the Lone Star College-Montgomery
biotechnology program secured a two-year grant from the Texas Space Grant
Consortium (TSGC) to evaluate the responses of microorganisms when exposed to
surface conditions similar to those found on Mars.



On the heels of the successful release of
the science fictionfilm The Martian,
staring actor Matt Damon, and the uncanny timing of NASAs confirmation of
water on mars, the Lone Star College-Montgomery biotechnology program secured a
two-year grant from the Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) to evaluate the
responses of microorganisms when exposed to surface conditions similar to those
found on Mars.
TSGC, a NASA-funded organization formed in
1989, consists of institutions in Texas networked to ensure that benefits of
space research and technology are available to the public of Texas. Academic
members include both large and small public and private institutions and the
consortium has developed a mix of higher education, research infrastructure and
public service projects.
"It was pretty cool timing, said Lone
Star College Biotechnology Institute (LSCBI) director Dr. Daniel Kainer. Right
about the time approval was granted, NASA made the big announcement that they
discovered liquid water on Mars. With the movie The Martian coming out at the same time, it made our project both current
and relevant to the LSC-Montgomery student body.
This type of real-world experience is so
valuable to our students, said LSC-Montgomery president Dr. Rebecca Riley. Experiential
learning is a great opportunity for them to gain a competitive edge in todays
job market or adds to their resume when transferring to four-year programs.
The biotechnology team will examine ways in
which cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, can be integrated into
sustainable life support systems for future astronauts who travel to, and
possibly colonize, on Mars. Students will ...

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