Definition

What is a lipid biomarker? Lipids are the fat-like components of cell membranes, an essential element of all living organisms. Some types of lipid molecules are found only in specific groups of organisms and serve as biological markers for these groups. The carbon skeleton of some lipid molecules are more resistant to degradation and can remain almost intact for billions of years (molecular fossils. Click here to see the structure of a cyanobacterial biomarker detected in organic sediments back as far as 2.7 Ga (billion years).

NASA  I  Space Science  I  Solar System Exploration  I  Exobiology Program  I  Space Science Division at Ames  I  Exobiology Branch at ARC
Last Modified December 8, 1999
Created & maintained by: Maria Farmer
Responsible NASA Official: Linda Jahnke ljahnke@mail.arc.nasa.gov