Got acetylene: a personal research retrospective. (31st July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oremland, Ronald S
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbes. Volume 2(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-31
• Subjects: anaerobes -- primordial metabolism -- exobiology -- bioremediation -- Titan -- Enceladus; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2633-6685

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In research, sometimes sheer happenstance and serendipity make for an unexpected discovery. Once revealed and if interesting enough, such a finding and its follow-up investigations can lead to advances by others that leave its originators 'scooped' and mulling about what next to do with their unpublished data, specifically what journals could it still be published in and be perceived as original. This is what occurred with us nearly 40 years ago with regard to our follow-up observations of acetylene fermentation and led us to concoct a 'cock-and-bull' story. We hypothesized about a plausible role for acetylene metabolism in the primordial biogeochemistry of Earth and the possibility of acetylene serving as a key life-sustaining substrate for alien microbes dwelling in the orbs of the outer solar system. With the passage of time, advances were made in whole-genome sequencing coupled with major in silico progress in bioinformatics. In parallel came the results of explorations of the outer solar system (i.e. the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moons). It now appears that these somewhat harebrained ideas of ours, arisen at first out of a sense of desperation, actually ring true in fact, and particularly well in song: 'Tell a tale of cock and bull, Of convincing detail full Tale tremendous, Heav'n defend us! What a tale of cock and bull!' From 'The Yeoman of the Guard' by Gilbert & Sullivan . Abstract : Visual representation of the discovery of acetylene fermentation as made by "Chuck" Culbertson. The black flask at the far left was originally a "control" to which acetylene was added to block nitrous oxide consumption. Both acetylene and nitrous oxide were eventually consumed, and as more was added the sediments grew darker as sulfate-reduction kicked in, feeding off the fermentation products (acetate and hydrogen), and precipitating black FeS.