On modern Earth, microbial sulfate reduction (MSR) drives the biogeochemical cycles of sulfur, iron, and carbon. MSR is coupled to the oxidation of organic carbon, and its main product is sulfide. The latter reacts with Fe(II) to precipitate as iron sulfide (Fe-S) minerals in anoxic sedimentary environments. MSR is an ancient metabolism that predates the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. Therefore, there is a potential long history of interactions between Fe-S minerals and anaerobic microbes.

In this seminar, I will present experimental work that examines how sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) influence the physical properties of Fe-S minerals, and how Fe-S minerals impact the physiology and longevity of SRB. Modern interactions could help us understand how Fe-S minerals might have played a role in the origin of biomolecules and evolution of microbial life