Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments

Response to Comments on "A Bacterium That Can Grow Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus"

By Keith Cowing
May 27, 2011

“Concerns have been raised about our recent study suggesting that arsenic (As) substitutes for phosphorus (P) in major biomolecules of a bacterium that tolerates extreme As concentrations. We welcome the opportunity to better explain our methods and results and to consider alternative interpretations. We maintain that our interpretation of As substitution, based on multiple congruent lines of evidence, is viable.”

Full response at Science Express

SpaceRef co-founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.