Gaia Genomics proposes to develop an instrument for the detection of earthborn and/or planetary life forms that are based on a nucleic acid paradigm. Highly sensitive reagents will be developed to detect DNA- or RNA-based organisms. The components of the proposed system are simple, rugged, stable, and inexpensive, and detection will be both rapid and highly sensitive. In Phase I, we will synthesize the diagnostic reagents and demonstrate proof-of-concept by their ability to detect nucleic acids. In Phase II, they will be incorporated into a portable prototype instrument designed for single- or multi-sample detection. The resulting device will be ideal for use as a survey tool for NASA Astrobiology interplanetary missions (Topic S4, Sub-topic 05).
