In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified the molecular mechanisms that enable Syntrichia caninervis, commonly known as steppe screw moss, to withstand extreme cold conditions.
Published in Plant, Cell & Environment, this discovery holds significant promise for future Mars terraforming efforts, offering insights into how plant life might be sustained on the Red Planet's frigid landscapes.
The cold-tolerance traits of Syntrichia caninervis could be pivotal in developing sustainable ecosystems beyond Earth, bridging the gap between current terrestrial biology and extraterrestrial colonization.
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists decode cold-tolerance mechanism in desert moss
cgtn.com
