Martian Rocks May Preserve Ancient DNA Fragments Despite Radiation, Study Finds
Scientists have discovered that DNA can persist in rocks exposed to radiation levels equivalent to those on Mars for over 100 million years. The findings suggest future Mars missions might recover identifiable genetic material from ancient Martian sediments, according to recent research.
DNA Survival in Extreme Martian Conditions
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that fragmented DNA could potentially be extracted from Martian surface rocks despite prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation, according to a recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment. The research indicates that between 1.48% and 8.45% of DNA sequences remain taxonomically identifiable even after exposure to radiation doses equivalent to 136 million years on the Martian surface, suggesting that genetic material might persist in similar environments on Mars.