Exiobiology is the study of life on other planets. In recentyears, scientists ja

Question

Exiobiology is the study of life on other planets. In recentyears, scientists jave semt various spacecraft out into the galaxyin search for extraterrestrial life. Assuming that all life sharescommon properties, what should exobiologists be looking for as theyexplore other worlds? Exiobiology is the study of life on other planets. In recentyears, scientists jave semt various spacecraft out into the galaxyin search for extraterrestrial life. Assuming that all life sharescommon properties, what should exobiologists be looking for as theyexplore other worlds?

Explanation / Answer

The branch of biology thatdeals with the search for extraterrestrial life and the effects ofextraterrestrial surroundings on living organisms. Also calledastrobiology, space biology.

The first thing we arelooking for is the presence of water or if water used to be there.We are also looking for evidence of metabolism in mineral deposits,as well as fossilized remains of microorganisms or other forms oflife.

Some chemical attributes ofterrestrial life might support a claim to be basic principles: forexample, polyphosphates (adenylpyrophosphate) occur in allorganisms as coupling agents for the storage and transfer ofmetabolic

energy. But, at least inprinciple, we can imagine that organisms may have foundalternative solutions to the same problem. Only the perspective ofcomparative biology on a cosmic scale could tell whether thisdevice is an indispensable

element of all life or aparticular attribute of its local occurrence on thisplanet.

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