What do you understand by 'Bio-signatures'? Discuss briefly.

 A 'phenomenon' produced by life, either modern or ancient is 'Bio-signature'. Bio means life and signature means any mark that can prove identity. Thus, in simple words biosignature means using biological traits as identification and authentication mark of an individual have different traits in various aspects. This can be characterized to produce biosignature.

Due to its unique biogenic characteristic, a definitive biosignature can be interpreted without question as having been produced by life.

Use of Biosignature in various areas:

• Biosignatures are biological indicators obtainable through assays to ascertain facts about an individual's health or disease state, in biology, biochemistry and biomedical research.
• Biosignatures are often use to determine which living organisms are or were present in a sample, in Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology.
• Biosignature can represent the fact of existence of life on extra-terrestrial surface, in astrobiology.

Thus, Biosignature may help in implementation of government programmes, diagnosis, disease, and defence purposes.

« Go Back to Model Answer Page