Science Opportunities - Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Science - page 43

systems to anthropogenic climate change. Comparative analyses of other events
in the geological record are revealing the complexity of biotic response. For
example, the Late Paleocene Thermal Maximum, possibly enhanced by a massive
release of methane hydrates at ocean margins, produced a surprisingly mild
extinction, and in some environments even promoted diversification, outside of
the deep sea.
New Tools and Capabilities
New and improved biological, chemical, geological, and paleontological
methods hold enormous potential for geobiological research. These capabilities
allow investigations that would have been virtually inconceivable in past
decades.
• Technical advances in molecular approaches such as genomics (the
mapping and sequencing of genomes and analysis of gene and genome
function), proteinomics (characterizing the structure-function relationship
of proteins), and developmental biology provide a means of (1) assessing
the diversity of organisms and of biological metabolisms in modern and
ancient environments; (2) tracing the role of gene transfer between
species, which is relevant to the evolution of life; (3) estimating
phylogenetic relationships within and among major microbial, plant and
animal groups; and (4) unraveling the mechanistic basis of morphological
innovation.
• Combinations of powerful solid, surface, solution, and organic analytical
techniques with conventional and molecular biological approaches can
now be used to (1) tackle the dynamics of trace and toxic element cycling
between solutions, solids, and biosphere reservoirs; (2) unravel the
mechanisms of biomineralization and the pathways of microbial
degradation of organics; (3) study the ecology of macroorganisms
(through analyses of bones, teeth, and shells); and (4) develop kinetic
models for biogeochemical processes.
• New molecular and isotopic techniques, applied to the remains of
organisms and in analysis of fossil morphologies, are being developed for
tracking levels of atmospheric CO 2 and O 2 and differentiating oceanic
water masses and their movements over geologic time. The combination
of these methods with expanded computer models and a better
understanding of ocean and atmospheric circulation will greatly advance
knowledge of the factors that affect climate and the geochemical and
biological cycling of key elements and molecules in the environment.
• Recent technical improvements have made it possible to measure
radioactive and stable isotopic differences with much higher precision and