1. Bacillus subtilis; microbes in space!
Highly resistant to UV and ionizing radiation.
Thick protective envelop
Proteins that limit chemical reactivity of the DNA in some strands.
References:
Moeller, R., P. Setlow, G. Horneck, "Roles of the Major, Small, Acid-Soluble Spore Proteins and Spore-Specific and Universal DNA Repair Mechanisms in Resistance of Bacillus Subtilis Spores to Ionizing Radiation from X Rays and High-Energy Charged-Particle Bombardment." Journal of Bacteriology (2008): Print.
Horneck, G., P. Rettberg, G. Reitz, J. Wehner, U. Eschweiler, K. Strauch, C. Panitz, V. Starke, and C. Baumstark-Khan Protection of bacterial spores in space, a contribution to the discussion on panspermia. Orig. Life Evol. Biosphere 31:
The experiment:
Different strands of B. Subtilis were exposed to space environments. Some strands had factors to repair DNA while some did not. Wild-type strands (filled circles) were least effected by radiation.