Alternative origins for nannobacteria-like objects in calcite

More than 40 calcite-precipitation experiments were performed under sterile conditions in order to investigate the origins of 25-300 nm spherical-, rod-, and ovoid-shaped objects that have been widely interpreted as evidence of nanometer-scale life (i.e., nannobacteria). Individual experiments inclu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 1999-04, Vol.27 (4), p.347-350
Main Authors: Kirkland, Brenda L, Lynch, F. Leo, Rahnis, Michael A, Folk, Robert L, Molineux, Ian J, McLean, Robert J. C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
bacteria-type structures
calcite
carbonates
crystal growth
Crystals
Eubacteria
experimental studies
Fossils
geochemistry
laboratory studies
Microbiology
microstructure
Mineralogy
nannofossil-type structures
nonsilicates
organic compounds
precipitation
rock, sediment, soil
Scientific imaging
SEM data
textures
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Summary:More than 40 calcite-precipitation experiments were performed under sterile conditions in order to investigate the origins of 25-300 nm spherical-, rod-, and ovoid-shaped objects that have been widely interpreted as evidence of nanometer-scale life (i.e., nannobacteria). Individual experiments included the addition of soluble organic compounds, common species of eubacteria, or phage-induced eubacterial lysates. These experiments indicate that many of the nanometer-scale objects have inorganic or nonnannobacterial origins. In the precipitation experiments, calcite formed euhedral crystals 50-800 nm in diameter and smaller (
ISSN:0091-7613
1943-2682
DOI:10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0347:AOFNLO>2.3.CO;2