Last week saw a group of scientists based in California publish research in Science1 about a bacterium that is able to assimilate arsenic from its arsenic rich environment and incorporate it into its DNA as a substitute for phosphorous. This finding was met with astonishment by many, and throwing the ‘known’ elements required to sustain life, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorous, into dispute. Truly astonishing findings; alien life on earth. Or is it?
Bacteria are some of the most adaptable life forms on the planet. They will literally live anywhere. From inside the human body, to inside a nuclear reactor. They are able to tolerate extremes of pH and even environments that are toxic to almost all other life forms such as the arsenic rich lakes in California. There is a key word in that last sentence, tolerate. Or as one famous Jurassic Park phrase goes ‘Life adapts. Life finds a way...’
The bacterium, known as GFAJ-1 of the halomonadaceae strain, resides in a highly arsenic rich environment. The findings of the study showed that arsenic had become incorporated into the bacterium and it was able to grow in arsenic conditions providing that phosphorous was present. But what many news sources missed out on was what this meant in real terms. Simply this bacteria has adapted to its environment, tolerating higher levels of arsenic than other bacteria – evolution. What the research also documents is how the bacteria show changes, a bloated vacuole, that suggest exposure to high levels of toxic substances such as arsenic. It seems the media didn’t read or understand the facts. Or maybe they weren’t communicated correctly.
To make matters worse the research team who published the data is now refusing to enter scientific discussion following questions into the research claims by a number of scientists. Almost like burying their heads in the sand. Even if this research has been taken the wrong way in thinking there is alien life present on earth, what it certainly does show is a significant adaptation by an organism, evolving to survive.
I believe this story shows how communication in science is key. A well rounded scientific argument, showing all the data, with all possible conclusions, whilst remaining open to discussion is the foundation to progress of scientific knowledge. Something that this research has failed to do well.
This story has gone from ‘alien life in our environment’ to ‘life in an alien environment.’ It shows the worlds within worlds that surround us and how life can adapt to meet new requirements. Maybe the media got the wrong idea about this story, or perhaps scientific communication needs improvement...
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