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The Boundaries of Life

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Astrochemistry and Astrobiology

Part of the book series: Physical Chemistry in Action ((PCIA))

Abstract

The boundaries of life are set by the physical and chemical limits beyond which functions associated with life, including growth and reproduction, cannot occur. Although these limits might appear to be specific to terrestrial life, thermodynamics and the basic biophysical properties of carbon-based molecules mean that the boundary of life using carbon as a molecular backbone and water as a solvent (the ‘biospace’) is likely to be universal, although exhibiting small variations depending on the particular molecular architecture adopted by life. Entirely novel biospaces using different chemistries (e.g. ammonia as a solvent) might be possible, although there is currently no empirical evidence for these alternative life chemistries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK

    Charles S. Cockell & Sophie Nixon

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  1. Charles S. Cockell
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  2. Sophie Nixon
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Correspondence to Charles S. Cockell .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , The University Chemical Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom

    Ian W. M. Smith

  2. , School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom

    Charles S. Cockell

  3. , Laboratoire d'Etude du Rayonnement, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, en astrophysique (LERMA), places Jules Janssen 5, Meudon, 92195, France

    Sydney Leach

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Cockell, C.S., Nixon, S. (2013). The Boundaries of Life. In: Smith, I., Cockell, C., Leach, S. (eds) Astrochemistry and Astrobiology. Physical Chemistry in Action. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31730-9_7

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