life in space Flashcards
study study study (42 cards)
how many characteristics of life do you need to survive
All 9!!!
what are the 9 characteristics of life?
-cell
-carbon-based biochemistry
-organization
-energy and metabolism
-growth and development
- reproduction
- homeostasis
-response to stimuli
- adaptation
cell def.
All organisms are composed of these tiny units that contain all the materials necessary for life.
carbon-based biochemistry def.
All living things have DNA and they are considered organic.
organization def.
All living things have a particular arrangement to them.
energy and metabolism def.
All living things must have a way of creating the ability to stay alive.
growth and development def.
All living things change in size and appearance over time.
reproduction def.
All living things have to have the ability to create more of their species.
homeostasis def.
All living things must maintain an internal stable environment.
response to a stimuli def.
All living things have the ability to react to their environment (both internally and externally).
adaptation def.
All living things have the ability to change over time to ensure their survival in a changing environment.
What are the 5 components necessary for a planet or moon to have life?
liquid water
energy
an atmosphere
reasonable temperature range
nutrients
What is the most important factor for life to exist?
liquid water
Four important facts about WATER.
- Water transports vital substances inside the organism.
- Water (oceans) influence world climate patterns.
- It helps the planet maintain a constant/stable temperature to support life.
- (Water expands when it freezes, unlike most liquids. This allows lakes to freeze from the top down) – allowing life to live through very cold winters under the frozen surface.
two important facts about energy
- The sun provides most of the heat, light, and other energy, which makes life possible on Earth.
- The Earth’s location, in reference to the Sun, enables it to:
a. Maintain liquid water: If the Earth were closer to the Sun, the water would evaporate away and if the Earth were farther away from the Sun, all the water would freeze.
b. The Sun is the perfect size, age, distance, temperature, and brightness for life to exist here on Earth.
astrobiology def.
The branch of biology that investigates the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.
atmosphere def.
mixture of gasses that surround a planet, moon, or other space object.
biochemistry def.
The science dealing with the chemistry of living matter.
cellular respiration def.
The process by which some organisms use C6H12O6 and O2 to produce CO2 and H2O and ATP (cell energy).
energy def.
The ability to cause change.
extremophile def.
Organisms that live in extreme environments. (like bacteria in a volcano or hot / sulfur spring)
Gravity def.
A force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses.
A phenomenon in which the atmosphere of a planet traps radiation emitted by its sun, caused by gasses such as CO2, H2O vapor, and CH4 that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but retain heat radiated back from the planet’s surface.
Greenhouse Effect:
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal state in a changing environment.