Carbon-based life

For the music group, see Carbon Based Lifeforms.
The Lewis structure of a carbon atom, showing its four valence electrons

Carbon is a primary component of all known life on Earth, and represents approximately 45–50% of all dry biomass.[1] Carbon compounds occur naturally in great abundance on Earth. Complex biological molecules consist of carbon atoms bonded with other elements, especially oxygen and hydrogen and frequently also nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur (collectively known as CHNOPS).[2][3]

Because it is lightweight and relatively small in size, carbon molecules are easy for enzymes to manipulate. Carbonic anhydrase is part of this process. Carbon has an atomic number of 6 on the periodic table. The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that is important in maintaining life on Earth over a long time span. The cycle includes carbon sequestration and carbon sinks.[4][5] Plate tectonics are needed for life over a long time span, and carbon-based life is important in the plate tectonics process.[6] An abundance of iron- and sulfur-based Anoxygenic photosynthesis life forms that lived from 3.80 to 3.85 billion years ago on Earth produces an abundance black shale deposits. These shale deposits increase heat flow and crust buoyancy, especially on the sea floor, helping to increase plate tectonics. Talc is another organic mineral that helps drive plate tectonics.[7][8] Inorganic processes also help drive plate tectonics.[9] Carbon-based photosynthesis life caused a rise in oxygen on Earth. This increase of oxygen helped plate tectonics form the first continents.[10] It is frequently assumed in astrobiology that if life exists elsewhere in the Universe, it will also be carbon-based.[11][12] Critics, like Carl Sagan in 1973, refer to this assumption as carbon chauvinism.[13]

  1. ^ "Knowledge reference for national forest assessments - modeling for estimation and monitoring". www.fao.org. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved Feb 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Molnar, Charles; Gair, Jane (May 14, 2015). "2.3 Biological Molecules". Introduction to the Chemistry of Life – via opentextbc.ca.
  3. ^ Education (2010). "CHNOPS: The Six Most Abundant Elements of Life". Pearson Education. Pearson BioCoach. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 2010-12-10. Most biological molecules are made from covalent combinations of six important elements, whose chemical symbols are CHNOPS. ... Although more than 25 types of elements can be found in biomolecules, six elements are most common. These are called the CHNOPS elements; the letters stand for the chemical abbreviations of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
  4. ^ Riebeek, Holli (16 June 2011). "The Carbon Cycle". Earth Observatory. NASA. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. ^ Archer, David (2010). The global carbon cycle. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400837076.
  6. ^ "How plate tectonics have maintained Earth's 'Goldilocks' climate". The University of Sydney.
  7. ^ "Talc Processing". www.soapstonetalc.com.
  8. ^ Sidder, Aaron (August 23, 2023). "Talc May Make Mexico's Subduction Zone More Slippery". Eos.
  9. ^ "Geology, Age and Origin of Supracrustal Rocks at Akilia, West Greenland".
  10. ^ Bressan, David. "Rise Of Oxygen On Early Earth Linked To The Formation Of First Continents". Forbes.
  11. ^ "Astrobiology". Biology Cabinet. September 26, 2006. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  12. ^ "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: An Interview With Dr. Farid Salama". Astrobiology magazine. 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  13. ^ Darling, David. "Carbon-based life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 14 September 2007.