Abstract

The goal of my research exchange at Dr. Brandi Kiel Reese’s laboratory was to extract DNA from two sediment samples from North Pond (IODP Expedition 336, Hole U1382B) for metagenomic analyses. This project aims to understand how the deep biosphere obtains phosphorus (P) and impacts sedimentary P cycling by determining the presence or absence of key genes involved in microbial P uptake and metabolism using metagenomic analyses. The proposed work is directly related to C-DEBI central research themes and will greatly enhance our knowledge of the activity in the deep biosphere and the limits of life. Our results will be compared to P geochemical data from North Pond (IODP expedition 336), which involve sequential extractions, stable oxygen isotopes in phosphate (proxy for P cycling) and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P NMR) data. The combined use of molecular microbial ecology techniques and geochemistry will provide a unique perspective on P sources to the deep biosphere and potential impacts of the deep biosphere on P cycling.