The Cultivation Lab focusses on aerobic and anaerobic enrichment and isolation of bacteria and archaea (microbial cultivation) as well as morphological, physiological and phylogenetic characterization. It covers simulation experiments and investigates adaptation to extremes.

The MSF-Lab, established in 2004, is part of the Department of Experimental Planetary Physics and is used for different astrobiological and physical experiments to simulate the key environmental conditions like pressure, temperature, radiation, gas composition, and primarily also the diurnally varying atmospheric humidity in a range from earth conditions to similar to those at the near-surface atmosphere of Martian mid- and low latitudes. A further part of the laboratory are tests with gas, …

The microbiology-related work of our section is done in this lab, as it has the capabilities for preparing a wide range of media and sterile solutions though filtration, autoclaving or UV exposure. Two refrigerators are dedicated for culturing cryophilic and cryotolerant microbial species under different light exposures. Moreover, a circulating water bath allows the culture of microorganisms up to 40 °C. The lab is also equipped with Bunsen burners, a PCR chamber and a Class II Biological …

The Molecular Microbiology Lab focuses on
I) DNA and RNA extraction, quantification and integrity applying protocols on commercial kits (physical and chemical cell lysis, silica column), phenol/chloroform extractions and extra- and intracellular separation (e/I DNA), and
II) microbiome diversity and abundance applying protocols on amplification and quantification of target genes via PCR and quantitative PCR, NGS library preparation as well as NGS sequencing.
Various sample types such …

The Omics Lab is currently equipped with all facilities to carry out DNA extractions, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. Current research includes the biodiversity and functions of cryophilic microbiomes with the focus on snow and ice algal communities.
The main equipment consists of a low temperature chamber and a real-time thermal PCR Cycler. The environmental chamber (Percival LT-36VL) allows to perform incubation at set chosen environmental parameters, or following …

Processes related to the solvents extraction of snow and ice algae or particles are conducted in the Organic Microbial Geochemistry Lab. These processes are done in combination with ultrasonic bath, shaking, and solid phase extraction. Evaporation of organic extracts using nitrogen or argon gas, as well as various intermediate steps such as milling, acidification and filtration are also carried out in this lab.

The Planetary Analog Simulation Facility-Laboratory (PASLAB) at the DLR is used for different astrobiological, chemical and physical experiments to simulate variations in key environmental conditions like pressure, temperature, radiation and gas composition, under conditions ranging from Earth-like (including Early Earth) to the near-surface atmosphere of Martian mid- and low latitudes and exoplanets (e.g. temperature range between -70 °C to +20 °C, low pressures 6 to 10 mbar, etc.). The DLR …

The TOC Room houses the Shimadzu Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOC-L-CPH) with ASI-L Autosampler, which is used for the analysis of total carbon, total organic carbon and inorganic carbon to study the carbon content of snow, ice and sediments from environmental samples as well as their biological and geochemical transformation processes. Prior to analysis, water samples are prepared under the SafeFAST Classic Class II Biological Safety Cabinet and stored acidified (pH = 2) in a refrigerator.