SpaceRef - Astrobiology and Life Science

SpaceRef - Astrobiology and Life Science - Radiation Resistance

Can spores survive a million years in the radiation of outer space? Part 1: protection against photons above 0.5 KEV - This paper deals with the radiation hazards that would confront an organism as it travelled through space between planets. In particular, this paper describes Deinococcus radiodurans which is extremely resistant to radiation damage. From "Astronomical and Biochemical Origins and the Search for Life in the Universe."

Complete Genome Sequence of Deinococcus radiodurans - Abstract of a paper presented at the 1999 DOE Human Genome Program Contractor-Grantee Workshop that describes the ability of Deinococcus radiodurans to reconstruct its genome after intense irradiation.

Deinococcus radiodurans - The members of the family Deinococcaceae have the distinctive feature of being the most radiation-resistant of vegetative cells. Certain strains have survived as much as 5 Mrad of gamma radiation. An important component of this radiation resistance is the ability to repair damage to chromosomal DNA. [National Center for Genome Resources]

Description of the known members of bacterial family Deinococcus - This page contains a list of the known members of Deinococcus noting when they were identified and by whom. The members of the family Deinococcaceae have the distinctive feature of being the most radiation-resistant of vegetative cells known.

Functional Analysis of Deinococcus radiodurans Genomes by Targeted Mutagenesis - D. radiodurans has extreme resistance to genotoxic chemicals, oxidative damage, high levels of ionizing and UV radiation, and desiccation. Abstract of a paper presented at the 1999 DOE Human Genome Program Contractor-Grantee Workshop.

Genome of Deinococcus radiodurans R1- Microbial Genomes Blast Databases - The members of the family Deinococcaceae have the distinctive feature of being the most radiation-resistant of vegetative cells known. This page lets you view the genome of Deinococcus radiodurans via the Microbial Genomes Blast Databases maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. (NCBI).

Superbug Survives Radiation, Eats Waste-Conan the Bacterium - A can of spoiled meat and nuclear waste may appear to have little in common, but the microbe Deinococcus radiodurans finds both environments rather cozy. [Human Genome News]

TIGR BLAST Search Engine for Unfinished Microbial Genomes (Deinococcus radiodurans) - This page at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) allows you to search for the latest information generated as the genome of Deinococcus radiodurans is being sequenced. This search facility allows you to search both protein and DNA sequences against TIGR's unpublished genomes.

Witches' Brew of Weird Bugs (Deinococcus radiodurans) - This article from the National Science Foundation's newsletter "Frontiers" describes research being done on the radioresistant organism Deinococcus radiodurans.