VOLUTION CONNECTION This chapter explains how theemergent properties of water contribute to the suitabilityof the environment for life. Until fairly recently, scientistsassumed that other physical requirements for life includeda moderate range of temperature, pH, atmospheric pressure,and salinity, as well as low levels of toxic chemicals. Thatview has changed with the discovery of organisms knownas extremophiles, which have been found flourishing inhot, acidic sulfur springs, around hydrothermal ventsdeep in the ocean, and in soils with high levels of toxicmetals. Why would astrobiologists be interested in studyingextremophiles? What does the existence of life in suchextreme environments say about the possibility of life onother planets?
Microbial Physiology
Microbial physiology is the branch of microbiology that is associated with studying the physiology of fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It is an important field of science concerning functional genomics and metabolic engineering.
Chemotaxis
The organism’s movement in a particular direction as a response to certain chemicals that are available in the environment is defined as chemotaxis. In brief, it can be defined as the occurrence of an organism’s movement in response to a certain chemical stimulus.
VOLUTION CONNECTION This chapter explains how the
emergent properties of water contribute to the suitability
of the environment for life. Until fairly recently, scientists
assumed that other physical requirements for life included
a moderate range of temperature, pH, atmospheric pressure,
and salinity, as well as low levels of toxic chemicals. That
view has changed with the discovery of organisms known
as extremophiles, which have been found flourishing in
hot, acidic sulfur springs, around hydrothermal vents
deep in the ocean, and in soils with high levels of toxic
metals. Why would astrobiologists be interested in studying
extremophiles? What does the existence of life in such
extreme environments say about the possibility of life on
other planets?
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