Functions and Possible Provenance of Primordial ProteinsPart II:  Microorganism Aggregation in Clouds Triggered by Climate Change

Andrei P. Sommer* and N. Chandra Wickramasinghe
Central Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany and Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3DY, United Kingdom
J. Proteome Res., 2005, 4 (1), pp 180–184
DOI: 10.1021/pr0498382
Publication Date (Web): January 26, 2005
Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society
*

 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:  samoan@ gmx.net.

,

 Central Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulm.

,

 Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University.

Abstract

Abstract Image

Current models predict that the elevation of the Earth's surface temperature due to global warming is accompanied by a warming of the troposphere, and a thickening cloud cover associated with longer-lasting clouds, in particular over land. These effects can have an instant impact on the vitality level of microorganisms in clouds and the spreading of airborne diseases. Microorganisms could originate from locations on the Earth, or even arrive from space. Primordial proteins in nanobacteria, only recently identified in the atmosphere, could play a significant role in cloudsaccelerating the formation of cloud droplets and interconnecting nanobacteria (and possibly nanobacteria and other microorganisms), thus enhancing their chances to eventually reach the Earth.

Keywords: global warming • primordial proteins • slime • light • living nanovesicles • nanobacteria • microorganisms • atmosphere

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History

  • Published In Issue February 14, 2005
  • Received September 5, 2004

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