Cyanobacterial responses to UV radiation

Abstract

The DNA-weighted irradiance of UV radiation on Mars is about three orders of magnitude higher than on the surface of the Earth. The response of cyanobacteria to UV radiation impinging on the Earthś surface is well known. Several methods are established for these organisms (Häder, 1997; Sinha et al., 2001; Sinha and Häder, 2002). Cyanobacteria may be ideal model systems to study biological effects of physical extremes on the Martian surface, to determine the degree of resistance to extreme stress factors, such as cycles of heat and cold, desiccation and high UV radiation fluxes.