The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Essay by kittykatmillyUniversity, Bachelor'sA, October 2012

download word file, 7 pages 0.0

RUNNING HEAD: Life on Earth and the Search of Extraterrestrial Life � PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT �1� Life on Earth and the Search of Extraterrestrial Life � PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT �2�

Life on Earth and the Search of Extraterrestrial Life

July 30, 2012

SCI/ 151

�

The Search of Extraterrestrial Life

For decades people question different aspects of the Universe. Wondering whether or not life exists throughout the Universe is a question that has not been completely answered. There are, however, certain aspects of life throughout the Universe that have been proven. The properties of life, how life formed on Earth, how that life has changed over billions of years, and how it could be possible for there to be life on other planets will be explored within these pages.

Properties of Life on Earth

Earth contains many properties and the description of these properties is considered Earth like because every life on Earth contains them.

These properties are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (Space, 2004). The other properties include the ability to grow, reproduce, requiring energy, evolve, and adapt to its environment (Palma, 2011). Water and DNA are key factors for life as well. DNA is what makes each living thing different. Each living thing on Earth contains cells. A requirement for life to continue and reproduce is energy.

The final requirement for living organisms on Earth is reproduction. Reproduction is the natural procedure among organisms by which new organisms generate and the species perpetuate (Dictionary, 2012). No matter how life on Earth is classified each life contains the same common properties. These are to have DNA, a cellular structure, "to grow and reproduce, requires energy, evolve and adapt to its environment, and requires liquid water" (Palma, 2011).

Origins of life

There are seven theories for the origin of life on...