DNA survives trip to space on exterior of rocket

Ars Technica : The launch of a sounding rocket—used for payloads that enter space just briefly—to study the effects of launches and spaceflight on cell samples also gave scientists the chance to see whether exposed DNA could survive the trip. The scientists spread DNA with sequences known to provide antibiotic resistance onto several surfaces on the exterior of the upper stage of the rocket. After its return, the scientists rinsed the rocket with sterile water and checked the water for the presence of DNA. Despite exposure to temperatures up to 1000 °C during launch, the DNA was still there. The scientists inserted the DNA into bacteria, but it was resistant to antibiotics. They also sequenced the DNA and detected only a handful of mutations—no more than would have otherwise been present. Beyond suggesting that DNA is more durable than expected, the finding also helps clarify the theory that biological molecules could survive space on comets and meteors and could have been delivered to planets, including Earth.