Re: Fungal strains in space spark worry - we might have already contaminated --

"Daniel"  wrote in message news:87ldduw72i.fsf@rpi3...

Clickbait.

NASA now fears that there are frozen microbes of fungi on our
probes. I'm going to shit myself in fear. I swear clickbait articles are
getting worse by the day.

--
Daniel
sysop  | air & wave bbs
finger | [email protected]
--------------------------------

This is significant because it also affects how returned samples must be 
treated and handled. Testing for unknown life forms without unknowingly 
releasing them is a risk. We don't have a perfect record with Earth's 
microbes, Covid-19 for example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Marburg_virus_disease_outbreak

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-kansas-underground-salt-museum-hutchinson-kansas
Mars could harbor similar ancient somethings that we don't initially 
recognize as alive until one or more finds favorable conditions and begins 
to grow and reproduce.

Viruses and plasmids are examples, they are incomplete forms that remain 
inert and apparently lifeless until they enter a living cell.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmid
"Plasmids are considered replicons, units of DNA capable of replicating 
autonomously within a suitable host. However, plasmids, like viruses, are 
not generally classified as life."

Their existence approximates an attractive and communicable but toxic idea, 
such as gambling, drugs or communism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screwfly_Solution

We have no way to remotely analyze an unknown substance to the molecular 
level. We might have to dissolve or incinerate all the equipment used to 
examine alien samples.

DIY Frankensteins:
"Synthetic plasmids are available for procurement over the internet by 
various vendors using submitted sequences typically designed with software, 
if a design does not work the vendor may make additional edits from the 
submission."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics
Biology provides the critical machine element of rotating shafts and motors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellum
"A shaft runs between the hook and the basal body, passing through protein 
rings in the cell's membrane that act as bearings."

A hostile entity with AI access could covertly subvert or destroy that way 
if we aren't careful. Already our critical infrastructure of energy and 
health care is being hacked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Plague
The cost estimate omits the availability of cheap second-hand lab 
instruments. I've been offered an electron microscope minus the vacuum pump 
for $200.