Re: Project Genesis

From: Ian Beardsley (ianbeardsley_at_webtv.net)
Date: 09/19/04 

Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 03:09:08 +0000 (UTC)

 
Re: Project Genesis
 
Group: sci.bio.evolution Date: Sat, Sep 18, 2004, 5:22pm (PDT+7) From:
malcolm@55bank.freeserve.co.uk (Malcolm)
"Ian Beardsley" <ianbeardsley@webtv.net> wrote
Earth and mars are the two terrestrial planets upon which we can set
foot and are next to one another. Carbon is the basis of life, and
Oxygen gas its neccesity (for animal life).
I won't comment on the astronomy and periodic table.
However this biological snippet isn't really correct. Carbon is the
basis of life and it is difficult to see how any form of life could
arise without it. However oxygen is merely a reagent. Early earth had a
reducing atmosphere, until vast quantities of oxygen were released by
the first photosynethesising bacteria.
As it happens all animals (kingdom Animae) have evolved in an oxidising
atmosphere, and need oxygen to survive. However there are many anaerobic
bacteria that live only in anoxic conditions, and a few that use agents
such as sulphur to live on. The fact that on Earth all multi-celled
animals are oxygen-breathers is just an accident, and we wouldn't
necessarily expect to find the same thing on other planets.
-------------------------------------------------
You are absolutely right. I should have said oxygen gas is neccessary
for human life.--Ian

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