Re: Panspermia

From: John K Clark (jonkc@att.net)
Date: Fri Dec 20 2002 - 09:15:33 MST


"Rafal Smigrodzki" <rms2g@virginia.edu> Wrote:

>We don't know how long it takes to evolve highly
>radiation-resistant spores,

I don't know if Panspermia is true or not but the fact that a bacteria like
Deinococcus radiodurans exists is very puzzling. A radiation level of just
500 rads can kill a human but D. radiodurans not only lives but thrives
after being hit with 1.5 million rads, and if you freeze the bacteria first
it lives even after 3 million rads. Why would Evolution go to all the
trouble to provide that much protection against a threat it is unlikely to
ever see? Perhaps the radiation protection is just a byproduct of something
else or maybe their is a more radical answer.

        John K Clark jonkc@att.net



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