in response to the changing Martian environment, would have produced organisms quite different from those which now inhabit Earth.
Simulation Experiments
Experiments have been performed in which terrestrial micro-organisms have been introduced into simulated Martian environments, with atmospheres composed of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, no oxygen, very little water, a daily temperature variation from +20° to —60° C, and high ultraviolet fluxes.
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Figure 2.—International Astronomical Union map of Mars. In the astronomical convention, south is toward the top. The extent of the polar ice caps in summer can be seen at the top and bottom of the picture. The area Syrtis Major, at +10° latitude, 290° longitude, is a site of strong seasonal darkness and polarization changes, and is a suspected site of hydrocarbons and aldehydes. The dark area, Solis Lacus, at —30° latitude, 90° longitude, is a site of strong secular changes which occur erratically and cover areas up to 1000 kilometers in extent. These two sites are among those of greatest interest for early exploration of Mars.
