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'''Felisa Wolfe-Simon''' is an American [[microbiology|microbial]] [[geobiology|geobiologist]] and [[biogeochemistry|biogeochemist]]. As a [[NASA]] research fellow with the [[US Geological Survey]] and a postdoctoral fellow at the [[NASA Astrobiology Institute]], Wolfe-Simon led a team that discovered [[GFAJ-1]], an [[extremophile]] bacteria proposed as the first known example of [[arsenic DNA]].
'''Felisa Wolfe-Simon''' is an American [[microbiology|microbial]] [[geobiology|geobiologist]] and [[biogeochemistry|biogeochemist]]. As a [[NASA]] research fellow, Wolfe-Simon published a paper in Science in December 2010 that described [[GFAJ-1]], an [[extremophile]] bacterium that was proposed to grow by using arsenic in place of phosphorus and to incorporate arsenic into its DNA. This paper led to a firestorm of criticism on the internet by scientists who doubted the study's methods and conclusions<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2276919/]</ref>.


== Education==
== Education==
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Wolfe-Simon's research focuses on evolutionary [[microbiology]] and exotic metabolic pathways. At a conference in 2008 and subsequent 2009 paper, Wolfe-Simon and colleagues proposed that [[arsenate]] ({{chem|AsO|4|3−}}) could serve as a substitute for [[phosphate]] ({{chem|PO|4|3−}}) in various forms of biochemistry.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826533.600-early-life-could-have-relied-on-arsenic-dna.html Early life could have relied on 'arsenic DNA'] 26 April 2008, Michael Reilly, ''New Scientist''</ref> As late as March 2010, she had been hinting of some [[shadow biosphere]] results to the press.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/eureka/article7040864.ece Could the Mono Lake arsenic prove there is a shadow biosphere?]</ref><ref>[http://www.astrobio.net/index.php?option=com_expedition&task=detail&id=3259 NASA – Astrobiology Magazine: "Searching for Alien Life, on Earth"] October 2009</ref> According to [[Paul Davies]], who coauthored that initial report, Wolfe-Simon was the one who had the critical insight that arsenic might be able to substitute for phosphorus.<ref name="ABC News">{{cite web|title=Discovery of new life put down to strong self-belief|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s3083913.htm|date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>
Wolfe-Simon's research focuses on evolutionary [[microbiology]] and exotic metabolic pathways. At a conference in 2008 and subsequent 2009 paper, Wolfe-Simon and colleagues proposed that [[arsenate]] ({{chem|AsO|4|3−}}) could serve as a substitute for [[phosphate]] ({{chem|PO|4|3−}}) in various forms of biochemistry.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826533.600-early-life-could-have-relied-on-arsenic-dna.html Early life could have relied on 'arsenic DNA'] 26 April 2008, Michael Reilly, ''New Scientist''</ref> As late as March 2010, she had been hinting of some [[shadow biosphere]] results to the press.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/eureka/article7040864.ece Could the Mono Lake arsenic prove there is a shadow biosphere?]</ref><ref>[http://www.astrobio.net/index.php?option=com_expedition&task=detail&id=3259 NASA – Astrobiology Magazine: "Searching for Alien Life, on Earth"] October 2009</ref> According to [[Paul Davies]], who coauthored that initial report, Wolfe-Simon was the one who had the critical insight that arsenic might be able to substitute for phosphorus.<ref name="ABC News">{{cite web|title=Discovery of new life put down to strong self-belief|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s3083913.htm|date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>


Wolfe-Simon then led a search for such an organism by targeting the naturally occurring arsenic-rich [[Mono Lake]], California. This search led to the discovery of the bacterium [[GFAJ-1]], which her team proposes is able to incorporate [[arsenate]] as a substitute for [[phosphate]] in its DNA and other essential biomolecules. If correct, this will be the only known organism to be capable of replacing phosphorus in its DNA and other vital biochemical functions.<ref name="IJA">{{cite journal|author=Wolfe-Simon, Felisa, Paul C.W Davies, and Ariel D. Anbar|title=Did Nature Also Choose Arsenic?|journal=International Journal of Astrobiology|volume=8|issue=2|year=2009|pages=69–74}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|title=Thriving on Arsenic, a Microbe May Redefine Life|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 2, 2010|author=Dennis Overbye|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/science/03arsenic.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss}}</ref><ref name="Aresenic Paper">{{cite journal|title = Did nature also choose arsenic?|journal=International Journal of Astrobiology|volume= 8|pages=69–74|issue=2|year=2009|author= Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Paul C.W. Davies and Ariel D. Anbar|url=http://www.ironlisa.com/WolfeSimon_etal_IJA2009.pdf | doi = 10.1017/S1473550408004394 }}</ref><ref name="Nature News">{{cite news|author=Alla Katsnelson|newspaper=Nature News|url = http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101202/full/news.2010.645.html|title=Arsenic-eating microbe may redefine chemistry of life}}</ref><ref name="Ars">[[Ars Technica]]. "[http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/12/bacteria-can-integrate-arsenic-into-its-dna-and-proteins.ars Bacteria first species observed to use arsenic-laced DNA backbone]".</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1202/How-does-an-arsenic-based-life-form-work-exactly |title=How does an arsenic-based life-form work, exactly? |first=Henry |last=Bortman |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=2 December 2010 |accessdate=2010-12-02}}</ref><ref name="Science">{{cite journal|author=Felisa Wolfe-Simon et al.| date=2010-12-02 |doi=10.1126/science.1197258|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|title=A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/3698/thriving-on-arsenic Thriving on Arsenic] Henry Bortman, Astrobiology Magazine, 2010-12-02</ref><ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/astrobiology_toxic_chemical.html NASA.gov: "NASA-Funded Research Discovers Life Built With Toxic Chemical"] December 2010</ref>
Wolfe-Simon then led a search for such an organism by targeting the naturally occurring arsenic-rich [[Mono Lake]], California. This search led to the discovery of the bacterium [[GFAJ-1]], which she proposed is able to incorporate [[arsenate]] as a substitute for [[phosphate]] in its DNA and other essential biomolecules. If correct, this will be the only known organism to be capable of replacing phosphorus in its DNA and other vital biochemical functions.<ref name="IJA">{{cite journal|author=Wolfe-Simon, Felisa, Paul C.W Davies, and Ariel D. Anbar|title=Did Nature Also Choose Arsenic?|journal=International Journal of Astrobiology|volume=8|issue=2|year=2009|pages=69–74}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|title=Thriving on Arsenic, a Microbe May Redefine Life|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 2, 2010|author=Dennis Overbye|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/science/03arsenic.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss}}</ref><ref name="Aresenic Paper">{{cite journal|title = Did nature also choose arsenic?|journal=International Journal of Astrobiology|volume= 8|pages=69–74|issue=2|year=2009|author= Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Paul C.W. Davies and Ariel D. Anbar|url=http://www.ironlisa.com/WolfeSimon_etal_IJA2009.pdf | doi = 10.1017/S1473550408004394 }}</ref><ref name="Nature News">{{cite news|author=Alla Katsnelson|newspaper=Nature News|url = http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101202/full/news.2010.645.html|title=Arsenic-eating microbe may redefine chemistry of life}}</ref><ref name="Ars">[[Ars Technica]]. "[http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/12/bacteria-can-integrate-arsenic-into-its-dna-and-proteins.ars Bacteria first species observed to use arsenic-laced DNA backbone]".</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1202/How-does-an-arsenic-based-life-form-work-exactly |title=How does an arsenic-based life-form work, exactly? |first=Henry |last=Bortman |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=2 December 2010 |accessdate=2010-12-02}}</ref><ref name="Science">{{cite journal|author=Felisa Wolfe-Simon et al.| date=2010-12-02 |doi=10.1126/science.1197258|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|title=A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/3698/thriving-on-arsenic Thriving on Arsenic] Henry Bortman, Astrobiology Magazine, 2010-12-02</ref><ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/astrobiology_toxic_chemical.html NASA.gov: "NASA-Funded Research Discovers Life Built With Toxic Chemical"] December 2010</ref> However, the scientific community rapidly responded to the paper with strong scepticism, which has led many to doubt the study's conclusions.<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2276919/]</ref> An influential early critique of the study's methodology was published online by microbiologist Rosie Redfield.<ref name="rrresearch">{{cite web|last=Redfield|first=Rosie|title=Arsenic-associated bacteria (NASA's claims)|url=http://rrresearch.blogspot.com/2010/12/arsenic-associated-bacteria-nasas.html|publisher=Blogspot|accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref>



==Awards==
==Awards==
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* D.T. Johnston, F. Wolfe-Simon, A. Pearson, and A.H. Knoll (2009). Anoxygenic photosynthesis modulated Proterozoic oxygen and sustained Earth's middle age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106: 16925-16929.
* D.T. Johnston, F. Wolfe-Simon, A. Pearson, and A.H. Knoll (2009). Anoxygenic photosynthesis modulated Proterozoic oxygen and sustained Earth's middle age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106: 16925-16929.
* J.B. Glass, F. Wolfe-Simon, J.J. Elser and A.D. Anbar (2010). Molybdenum-nitrogen colimitation in heterocystous cyanobacteria. Limnology and Oceanography. 55: 667-676.
* J.B. Glass, F. Wolfe-Simon, J.J. Elser and A.D. Anbar (2010). Molybdenum-nitrogen colimitation in heterocystous cyanobacteria. Limnology and Oceanography. 55: 667-676.
* D. Chauhan, I.M. Folea, C. Jolley, R. Kouril, C. Lubner, S. Lin, D. Kolber, F. Wolfe-Simon, J. Golbeck, E. J. Boekema & P. Fromme (2010). A novel photosynthetic strategy for adaptation to low iron aquatic environments. Biochemistry. in press.
* {{Cite journal|author=Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Jodi Switzer Blum, Thomas R. Kulp, Gwyneth W. Gordon, Shelley E. Hoeft, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, John F. Stolz, Samuel M. Webb, Peter K. Weber, [[Paul C. W. Davies]], Ariel D. Anbar and Ronald S. Oremland| year=2010 |doi=10.1126/science.1197258|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|title=A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258}}
* {{Cite journal|author=Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Jodi Switzer Blum, Thomas R. Kulp, Gwyneth W. Gordon, Shelley E. Hoeft, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, John F. Stolz, Samuel M. Webb, Peter K. Weber, [[Paul C. W. Davies]], Ariel D. Anbar and Ronald S. Oremland| year=2010 |doi=10.1126/science.1197258|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|title=A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258}}


Revision as of 13:23, 11 December 2010

Felisa Lauren Wolfe-Simon
Born
Felisa Lauren Wolfe
Alma materRutgers University Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences (Ph.D.)
Oberlin College (B.A.)
Oberlin Conservatory of Music (B.M.)
Known forGFAJ-1 bacterium
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
Microbiology
Astrobiology
Geochemistry
Geomicrobiology
Oceanography
InstitutionsNASA Astrobiology Institute
US Geological Survey
Rutgers University

Felisa Wolfe-Simon is an American microbial geobiologist and biogeochemist. As a NASA research fellow, Wolfe-Simon published a paper in Science in December 2010 that described GFAJ-1, an extremophile bacterium that was proposed to grow by using arsenic in place of phosphorus and to incorporate arsenic into its DNA. This paper led to a firestorm of criticism on the internet by scientists who doubted the study's methods and conclusions[1].

Education

Wolfe-Simon did her undergraduate studies at Oberlin College and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry and a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance and Ethnomusicology at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.[2] She received her Doctor of Philosophy in oceanography from the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University in 2006 with a dissertation titled The Role and Evolution of Superoxide Dismutases in Algae.[3]

Career

Wolfe-Simon's research focuses on evolutionary microbiology and exotic metabolic pathways. At a conference in 2008 and subsequent 2009 paper, Wolfe-Simon and colleagues proposed that arsenate (AsO3−
4) could serve as a substitute for phosphate (PO3−
4) in various forms of biochemistry.[4] As late as March 2010, she had been hinting of some shadow biosphere results to the press.[5][6] According to Paul Davies, who coauthored that initial report, Wolfe-Simon was the one who had the critical insight that arsenic might be able to substitute for phosphorus.[7]

Wolfe-Simon then led a search for such an organism by targeting the naturally occurring arsenic-rich Mono Lake, California. This search led to the discovery of the bacterium GFAJ-1, which she proposed is able to incorporate arsenate as a substitute for phosphate in its DNA and other essential biomolecules. If correct, this will be the only known organism to be capable of replacing phosphorus in its DNA and other vital biochemical functions.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] However, the scientific community rapidly responded to the paper with strong scepticism, which has led many to doubt the study's conclusions.[17] An influential early critique of the study's methodology was published online by microbiologist Rosie Redfield.[18]


Awards

In 2006 she was awarded a National Science Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship to support work done at Harvard University and Arizona State University. In 2010, she was honored with the Kavli Fellowship from the United States National Academy of Sciences recognizing outstanding young scientists.[2] Wolfe-Simon's research is funded by the NASA Astrobiology and Evolutionary Biology program.

Publications

  • F. Wolfe, K. Kroeger and I. Valiela (1999). Increased lability of estuarine dissolved organic nitrogen from urbanized watersheds. Biological Bulletin. 197:290-292.
  • F. Wolfe-Simon, D. Grzebyk, O. Schofield, and P. G. Falkowski (2005). The role and evolution of superoxide dismutase in algae. Journal of Phycology. 41: 453-465.
  • F. Wolfe-Simon (2006). The Role and Evolution of Superoxide Dismutases in Algae. Ph.D. Thesis. Rutgers Graduate Program in Oceanography.
  • F. Wolfe-Simon, V. Starovoytov, J.R. Reinfelder, O. Schofield, and P. G. Falkowski (2006). Localization and role of manganese superoxide dismutase in a marine diatom. Plant Physiology. 142: 1701-1709.
  • P.C.W. Davies, S.A. Benner, C.E. Cleland, C.H. Lineweaver, C.P. McKay and F. Wolfe-Simon (2009). Signatures of a Shadow Biosphere. Astrobiology. 9: 241-249.
  • J.B. Glass, F. Wolfe-Simon, and A.D. Anbar (2009). Coevolution of marine metal availability and nitrogen assimilation in cyanobacteria and algae. Geobiology. 7: 100-123.
  • F. Wolfe-Simon, P.C.W. Davies and A.D. Anbar (2009). Did nature also choose Arsenic? International Journal of Astrobiology. 8: 69-74.
  • R.S. Oremland, C.W. Saltikov, F. Wolfe-Simon, and J.F. Stolz (2009). Arsenic in the evolution of Earth and extraterrestrial ecosystems. Geomicrobiology Journal. 26: 522 - 536.
  • D.T. Johnston, F. Wolfe-Simon, A. Pearson, and A.H. Knoll (2009). Anoxygenic photosynthesis modulated Proterozoic oxygen and sustained Earth's middle age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106: 16925-16929.
  • J.B. Glass, F. Wolfe-Simon, J.J. Elser and A.D. Anbar (2010). Molybdenum-nitrogen colimitation in heterocystous cyanobacteria. Limnology and Oceanography. 55: 667-676.
  • Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Jodi Switzer Blum, Thomas R. Kulp, Gwyneth W. Gordon, Shelley E. Hoeft, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, John F. Stolz, Samuel M. Webb, Peter K. Weber, Paul C. W. Davies, Ariel D. Anbar and Ronald S. Oremland (2010). "A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus". Science. doi:10.1126/science.1197258.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2276919/]
  2. ^ a b "Wolfe-Simon CV" (PDF).
  3. ^ Wolfe-Simon, Felisa (2006). The Role and Evolution of Superoxide Dismutases in Algae (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). Retrieved 8 December 2010. {{cite thesis}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  4. ^ Early life could have relied on 'arsenic DNA' 26 April 2008, Michael Reilly, New Scientist
  5. ^ Could the Mono Lake arsenic prove there is a shadow biosphere?
  6. ^ NASA – Astrobiology Magazine: "Searching for Alien Life, on Earth" October 2009
  7. ^ "Discovery of new life put down to strong self-belief". December 3, 2010.
  8. ^ Wolfe-Simon, Felisa, Paul C.W Davies, and Ariel D. Anbar (2009). "Did Nature Also Choose Arsenic?". International Journal of Astrobiology. 8 (2): 69–74.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Dennis Overbye (December 2, 2010). "Thriving on Arsenic, a Microbe May Redefine Life". New York Times.
  10. ^ Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Paul C.W. Davies and Ariel D. Anbar (2009). "Did nature also choose arsenic?" (PDF). International Journal of Astrobiology. 8 (2): 69–74. doi:10.1017/S1473550408004394.
  11. ^ Alla Katsnelson. "Arsenic-eating microbe may redefine chemistry of life". Nature News.
  12. ^ Ars Technica. "Bacteria first species observed to use arsenic-laced DNA backbone".
  13. ^ Bortman, Henry (2 December 2010). "How does an arsenic-based life-form work, exactly?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  14. ^ Felisa Wolfe-Simon; et al. (2010-12-02). "A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus". Science. doi:10.1126/science.1197258. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  15. ^ Thriving on Arsenic Henry Bortman, Astrobiology Magazine, 2010-12-02
  16. ^ NASA.gov: "NASA-Funded Research Discovers Life Built With Toxic Chemical" December 2010
  17. ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2276919/]
  18. ^ Redfield, Rosie. "Arsenic-associated bacteria (NASA's claims)". Blogspot. Retrieved 11 December 2010.

Further reading

External links

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