[Gas chromatographic study of broth cultures of microorganisms as a method of detecting extraterrestrial life].

The method of pyrolysis--gas chromatography was used to study the composition of cultural liquids obtained upon the incubation of desert soil samples in a rich growth medium. The composition of pyrolysis products was found to depend on the time of incubation. Cultural liquids differed in their composition from the original growth medium. This method is a dynamical one, and can be employed to control the activity of microorganisms.