The Viking Biological Investigation: General aspects
Abstract
The Viking biological investigation has tested four different hypotheses regarding the possible nature of Martian organisms. While significant results were obtained for each of these, tests of three of the hypotheses appear to indicate the absence of biology in the samples used, while the fourth is consistent with a biological interpretation. The original assumptions for each experiment and the experimental procedures that were utilized to test these assumptions are reviewed.
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The Viking labeled release experiment yielded results consistent with biological activity: 14C-labeled gas was produced from surface samples, but not when they had been sterilized by heating to 160°C.
“Curiously, the labeled release experiment did indeed yield results consistent with biological activity: 14C-labeled gas was produced from the surface samples, but not when they had been sterilized by heating to 160°C (the negative control).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Klein, 1977
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References 17 · Cited by 112
- Authors
- Klein, H. P.
- Affiliations
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Klein, H. P.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 1977-09-30
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 28
- Pages
- 4677-4680
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2063435170
- Cited by
- 112
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 7.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- Viking landers, extraterrestrial life, hypothesis testing
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