MASSE

NAI Astrobiotechnology Focus Group

An Introduction and sign-up form hosted by the MASSE project

This working group is to monitor current and developing biotechnology for direct application to Astrobiology issues.

This will mainly focus on exploiting biotechnology, lab-on-a-chip and µTAS (micro total analytical systems) for the following issues (more will be added as other investigators apply and add interest areas):

	Detection of prebiotic chemicals.
	Detection of terrestrial contamination for space craft and return sample analysis.
	Detection of Extraterrestrial / non earth centric life.
	Detection of organic Fossil Biomarkers.
	Detection of early life on earth
	The use of Biotechnology in Manned Space programs.
	The use of genomics and proteomics for microbial population monitoring.
	The use of combinatorial chemistry and chip technology for constraining possible extraterrestrial biochemistries.
	Use of chemistry-on-a-chip for organic chemistry applications.
	The use where applicable of the above for solar system exploration. In particular for robotic missions for life detection.

The emphasis of the working group should be:

	To instigate communication and collaboration between researchers in different Astrobiology sub-disciplines, towards refining these techniques for particular applications relevant to their field.
	To ensure a higher profile of these techniques within the community as a whole.
	To define a number of probes (DNA, RNA, aptamers, proteins, antibodies etc) that could reliably be used in Extraterrestrial applications.
	To interest commercial biotech vendors in mission opportunities to ensure fast and efficient use of current technology and its passage into space operations.
	To foster collaboration and understanding between space flight engineers and biotechnologists and biotech engineers towards defining new instrumentation and flight opportunities.
	To identify funding bodies both within and outside NASA to apply for investment into new collaborative projects.

To register your interest ...

Please complete and submit the following form.

Also, please forward this to anyone that you feel will be interested, both academics and commercial vendors.

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Updated

14 October 2004

To contact the MASSE Team e-mail enquiries@masse.co.uk