Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence micro-spectroscopy: A new approach to determine the origin of life on Earth

这个项目解决了当今科学界最重要的问题之一，那就是地球上最早的生命形式的起源和性质是什么？目前，关于地球上最早的生命形式的性质和起源的证据在科学文献中是一个激烈争议的领域。这源于对确定古代推定化石微生物的起源和性质的各种分析技术的有效性缺乏共识。解决这一问题的关键之一是开发创新的生物地球化学技术。该项目将是首次应用基于同步加速器的硬X射线显微X射线荧光(结合相衬成像和微X射线吸收近边光谱)，以观察在古代推定的微化石中是否可以保留任何微量的生物元素分布和细胞结构。这种方法将提供一个前所未有的机会来揭示古老的生物地球化学过程，从而更好地了解生命的早期进化及其与地球早期环境的相互作用-S。这个项目将支持研究生获得博士学位，并将成为教授大一新生地球早期生命和原始生物圈的一个不可或缺的组成部分，在KU教授的高级本科生和研究生课程中。此外，来自教育学院的初中和高中科学教育专业的学生？该计划现在可以选择进行为期一学期的地球生物学研究。最终目标是提供工具包？供地球科学教育工作者作为受雇的初中和高中教师使用。地球科学教育研究是一个成功的工具，展示了涉及尖端研究的实际生活过程和机制。因此，教师可以与学生分享他们的经验，从而展示如何进行现实世界的科学研究来解释自然现象。目前正在开发一项针对初中生的研究计划，该计划可以在KU这里的地球生物实验室里，在暑假期间进行20小时的研究项目。

This project addresses one of the most significant questions in science today, and that is, what was the origin and nature of the first forms of life on Earth? Currently, the evidence for the nature and origin of the first forms of life on Earth is an area of intense controversy in the scientific literature. This stems from the lack of consensus on the validity of various analytical techniques for establishing the origins and nature of ancient putative fossil microbes. One key to solving this problem is to develop innovative biogeochemical techniques. The proposed project will be the first application of synchrotron based hard X-ray micro-X-ray fluorescence (in combination with phase contrast imaging and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy), to observe if any trace biological elemental distribution and cellular structures can be preserved in ancient putative microfossils. This approach will provide an unprecedented opportunity to shed new light on ancient biogeochemical processes thereby, providing a greater understanding of the early evolution of life and its interactions with Earth?s early environments.This project will support a graduate student for obtaining a Doctorate degree, and will form an integral component of teaching early life on Earth and the primordial biosphere in freshmen to upper level undergraduate and graduate courses taught at KU. In addition, middle and high school science education students from the School of Education ?UKanTeach? program now have an option to undertake a semester of research in geobiology. The ultimate goal is to provide ?toolkits? for geosciences educators to utilize as employed middle and high school teachers. The geosciences education research is a successful vehicle demonstrating the actual real life processes and mechanisms involved in cutting-edge research. Thus, allowing teachers to share their experience with students and thereby showing how real-world scientific research is conducted to explain natural phenomena. Currently under development is a research scheme for middle and high school students that can undertake a 20-hour research project during their summer vacation here at KU in the geobiology laboratories.