Going to the Hot Spot

V. Ye. Repin, Ye. V. Deineka, A. N. Simonov, O. P. Pestunova, N. A. Kolchanov, V. V. Vlasov, I. G. Prokopkin

The pages of Science First Hand have been dedicated more than once to the problems of origin and evolution of the primitive life forms under the extreme conditions of the ancient Earth. And now, do similar conditions exist anywhere on the planet? Experts believe they do: they arise and are maintained for a long time near underwater volcanoes as well as in hydrotherms — hot springs appearing on the surface as a result of volcanic activity. Gas and water coming there from the interior of the Earth bring with them the same set of chemical agents as billions of years ago on the yet lifeless planet. It is there that unusual communities of primitive microorganisms able to assimilate inorganic compounds and to evolve with the changing conditions are formed.

The list of problems suggests that such a project can be accomplished only by a group of experts with various skills and knowledge. Indeed, there are several Institutes of the Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Science (SB RAS) that take part in the project: the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Institute of Biophysics, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Trofimuk Institute of Oil and Gas Geology and Geophysics.

The first step in the project was a complex scientific expedition to the famous Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka.

More information on these and other subjects you can find in the printed version of our journal.