Core Discoveries: The Newsletter for Scientific Ocean Drilling
Published: March 21, 2013
C-DEBI Contribution Number: 214

Abstract

Deep biosphere research has grown so quickly over the last several decades, it’s enough to make a fast-growing microbe jealous. Biological characterization of the diversity and function of life in the ocean crust first moved into a prominent role in the drilling program with ODP Leg 201. Recently, however, it has been the main focus of several expeditions, including 329 (South Pacific Gyre Subseafloor Life) and 336 (Mid-Atlantic Ridge Microbiology) on board the JOIDES Resolution, and 337 (Deep Coalbed Biosphere off Shimokita) on board the Chikyu. With these, and through microbiological work on other expeditions, the deep biosphere research community is finding its stride. Moreover, new deep biosphere-focused research programs such as the Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) are enabling new colleagues to get involved in this fast moving field.

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