DNA sequencing at the picogram level to investigate life on Mars and Earth.

ABSTRACT: DNA is an incontrovertible biosignature whose sequencing aids in species identification, genome functionality, and evolutionary relationships. To study life within the rocks of Earth and Mars, we demonstrate, in an ISO5 clean room, a procedure based on nanopore technology that correctly identifies organisms at picogram levels of DNA without amplification. Our study with E. coli and S. cerevisiae DNA samples showed that MinION sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) can unequivocally detect and characterise microbes with as little as 2 pg of input with just 50 active nanopores. This result is an excellent advancement in sensitivity, immediately applicable to investigating low biomass samples. This value is also at the level of possible background contamination associated with the reagents

SUBMITTER: Basapathi Raghavendra J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10504319 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature