A microbial ecosystem containing bacteria, archaea, and DNA was recently discovered in which desert?

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The correct answer is Option A: Atacama Desert. A microbial ecosystem containing bacteria, archaea, and DNA was discovered 2 metres below the surface of the Atacama Desert. The Atacama Desert is located in northern Chile and is considered the driest hot desert in the world. The Atacama Desert is widely used as a Mars-like terrestrial analogue in astrobiology studies. Astrobiology is the scientific study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. The Atacama Desert features hyper-arid climate, high solar radiation, and very low organic content. The Yungay Valley is one of the key regions within the Atacama Desert studied for extreme life forms. Microbial life in the Atacama Desert has been detected below the surface where environmental conditions differ from surface soil. Earlier studies found microbial life mainly within the top 30 centimetres of soil. Later research extended the known microbial life depth in Atacama soils up to at least 4 metres. An international study led by the University of Cologne identified nematodes in Atacama desert soils. Nematodes are microscopic roundworms found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems.

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Gobi Desert

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Kalahari Desert

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Sahara Desert

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Thar Desert

A microbial ecosystem containing bacteria, archaea, and DNA was recently discovered in which desert?

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A microbial ecosystem containing bacteria, archaea, and DNA was recently discovered in which desert?

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