Astrobiology : understanding life in the universe / Charles Cockell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cockell, Charles S., 1967- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life--Origin.

Life.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (470 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

West Sussex, [England] : Wiley Blackwell, 2015.

Summary:

Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary field that asks profound scientific questions. How did life originate on the Earth? How has life persisted on the Earth for over three billion years? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth? Astrobiology : Understanding Life in the Universe is an introductory text which explores the structure of living things, the formation of the elements for life in the Universe, the biological and geological history of the Earth and the habitability of other planets in our own Solar System and beyond. The book is designed to convey some of the major conceptual foundations in astrobiology that cut across a diversity of traditional fields including chemistry, biology, geosciences, physics and astronomy. It can be used to complement existing courses in these fields or as a stand-alone text for astrobiology courses. Readership : Undergraduates studying for degrees in earth or life sciences, physics, astronomy and related disciplines, as well as anyone with an interest in grasping some of the major concepts and ideas in astrobiology.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Acknowledgements

About the Companion Website

Chapter 1 Astrobiology and Life

1.1 About this Textbook

1.2 Astrobiology and Life

1.3 What is Astrobiology?

1.4 History of Astrobiology

1.5 What is Life?

1.6 Conclusions

Further Reading

Chapter 2 Matter, the Stuff of Life

2.1 Matter and Life

2.2 We are Made of 'Ordinary' Matter

2.3 Matter: Its Nucleus

2.3.1 Isotopes

2.4 Electrons, Atoms and Ions

2.5 Types of Bonding in Matter

2.6 Ionic Bonding

2.6.1 Ionic Bonds and Life

2.7 Covalent Bonding

2.7.1 Covalent Bonds and Life

2.8 Metallic Bonding

2.9 van der Waals' Interactions

2.9.1 Dipole-dipole (Keesom) Forces

2.9.2 Dipole-induced Dipole (Debye

Pronounced deh-beye) Forces

2.9.3 Dispersion Forces

2.9.4 van der Waals' Interactions and Life

2.10 Hydrogen Bonding

2.10.1 Hydrogen Bonds and Life

2.11 The Equation of State Describes the Relationship between Different Types of Matter

2.12 Phase Diagrams

2.12.1 Matter and Mars

2.12.2 Phase Diagrams and Life

2.13 Other States of Matter

2.13.1 Plasma

2.13.2 Degenerate Matter

2.14 The Interaction between Matter and Light

2.14.1 The Special Case of the Hydrogen Atom

2.14.2 Uses to Astrobiology

2.15 Conclusions

Chapter 3 Life's Structure: Building the Molecules

3.1 Building Life

3.2 The Essential Elements: CHNOPS

3.3 Carbon is Versatile

3.4 The Chains of Life

3.5 Proteins

3.6 Chirality

3.7 Carbohydrates (Sugars)

3.8 Lipids

3.9 The Nucleic Acids

3.9.1 Ribonucleic Acid

3.10 The Solvent of Life

3.10.1 Water as the Best Solvent

3.11 Alternative Chemistries

3.11.1 Alternative Core Elements

3.11.2 Alternative Solvents

3.12 The Structure of Life and Habitability

3.13 Conclusion.

Further Reading

Chapter 4 Life's Structure: Building Cells from Molecules

4.1 From Molecules to Cells

4.2 Types of Cells

4.3 Shapes of Cells

4.4 The Structure of Cells

4.5 Membranes

4.5.1 Gram-negative and Positive Prokaryotic Membranes

4.5.2 Archeal Membranes

4.6 The Information Storage System of Life

4.6.1 Transcription - DNA to RNA

4.6.2 Translation - RNA to Protein

4.6.3 A Remarkable Code

4.6.4 DNA Replication

4.6.5 Plasmids

4.6.6 eDNA

4.7 Cell Reproduction

4.8 The Growth of Life

4.9 Moving and Communicating

4.9.1 Movement in Prokaryotes

4.9.2 Communication in Prokaryotes

4.10 Eukaryotic Cells

4.10.1 Endosymbiosis

4.11 Viruses

4.12 Prions

4.13 Conclusions

Chapter 5 Energy for Life

5.1 Energy and Astrobiology

5.2 Life and Energy

5.3 The Central Role of Adenosine Triphosphate

5.4 Chemiosmosis and Energy Acquisition

5.5 What Types of Electron Donors and Acceptors can be Used?

5.6 Aerobic Respiration

5.7 Anaerobic Respiration

5.8 Fermentation

5.9 Chemoautotrophs

5.9.1 Methanogens and Methanotrophs

5.9.2 Sulfur Cycling

5.9.3 Iron Oxidisers

5.9.4 Nitrogen Cycling and the Chemoautotrophs

5.10 Energy from Light: Oxygenic Photosynthesis

5.11 Anoxygenic Photosynthesis

5.12 Global Biogeochemical Cycles

5.13 Microbial Mats - Energy-driven Zonation in Life

5.14 The Thermodynamics of Energy and Life

5.14.1 Gibbs Free Energy: The Energy in Reactants and Products

5.14.2 Gibbs Free Energy: The Concentration of Compounds

5.14.3 Gibbs Free Energy: Using Redox Reactions

5.15 Life in Extremes

5.16 Conclusions

Chapter 6 The Tree of Life

6.1 A Vast Diversity of Life

6.2 The Tree of Life

6.3 Some Definitions

6.4 Classifying Organisms

6.5 Homology and Analogy.

6.6 Building a Phylogenetic Tree

6.7 Some Definitions and Phylogenetic Trees

6.8 Types of Phylogenetic Trees

6.9 Using Phylogenetic Trees to Test Hypotheses

6.10 Complications in Building the Universal Tree of Life

6.10.1 Endosymbiosis

6.10.2 Horizontal Gene Transfer

6.11 The Last Universal Common Ancestor

6.12 Molecular Clocks

6.13 Alien Life

6.14 Conclusions

Chapter 7 The Limits of the Biospace

7.1 The Biospace

7.2 The Importance of the Biospace for Astrobiology

7.3 The Edges of the Biospace are Dominated by Microbes

7.4 Life at High Temperatures

7.4.1 Uses for Thermostable Molecules

7.5 Life at Low Temperatures

7.6 Salt-loving Organisms

7.6.1 Salt-in Strategy

7.6.2 Salt-out Strategy

7.6.3 Low Water Activity

7.7 pH Extremes

7.8 Life Under High Pressure

7.9 Tolerance to High Radiation

7.10 Life in Toxic Brews

7.11 Life on the Rocks

7.12 Polyextremophiles - dealing with Multiple Extremes

7.13 Life Underground

7.14 Dormancy in Extreme Conditions

7.15 Eukaryotic Extremophiles

7.16 Are there Other Biospaces?

7.17 The Limits of Life: Habitability Revisited

7.18 Conclusions

Chapter 8 The Formation of the Elements of Life

8.1 In the Beginning

8.2 Low Mass Stars

8.3 High Mass Stars

8.4 The Elements of Life

8.5 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

8.6 The Sun is a Blackbody

8.7 The Formation of Planets

8.8 Types of Objects in our Solar System

8.9 Laws Governing the Motion of Planetary Bodies

8.10 Meteorites

8.11 Conclusions

Chapter 9 Astrochemistry - Carbon in Space

9.1 Astrochemistry: The Molecules of Life?

9.2 Observing Organics

9.3 In the Beginning

9.4 Different Environments

9.4.1 Diffuse Interstellar Clouds

9.4.2 Molecular Clouds.

9.4.3 Protoplanetary Disc

9.4.4 Carbon-rich Stars

9.4.5 Shock Waves from Supernova Explosions and Other Astrophysical Violence

9.5 How are Compounds Formed?

9.6 Interstellar Grains

9.7 Forming Carbon Compounds

9.8 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

9.9 Even More Carbon Diversity

9.9.1 Prebiotic Compounds

9.10 Comets

9.11 Chirality

9.12 Laboratory Experiments

9.13 Observing these Molecules

9.14 Conclusions

Chapter 10 The Early Earth (The First Billion Years)

10.1 The First Billion Years of the Earth

10.2 The Earth Forms and Differentiates

10.3 The Formation of the Moon

10.4 The Early Oceans

10.5 The Early Crust

10.6 The Early Atmosphere

10.7 The Temperature of the Early Earth

10.8 The Late Heavy Bombardment

10.9 Implications of the Early Environment for Life

10.10 Conclusion

Chapter 11 The Origin of Life

11.1 Early Thoughts on the Origin of Life: Spontaneous Generation

11.2 Some Possible Ideas for the Origin of Life

11.3 The Synthesis of Organic Compounds on the Earth

11.3.1 Possible Reaction Pathways

11.4 Delivery from the Extraterrestrial Environment

11.5 The RNA World

11.6 Early Cells

11.7 Where did it Happen?

11.7.1 Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents

11.7.2 Land-based Volcanic Pools

11.7.3 Impact Craters

11.7.4 Beaches

11.7.5 Bubbles

11.7.6 The Deep Sub-Surface

11.7.7 Mineral Surfaces

11.8 A Cold Origin of Life?

11.9 The Whole Earth as a Reactor?

11.10 Conclusions

Chapter 12 Early Life on Earth

12.1 Early Life on the Earth

12.2 Early Life - Metabolisms and Possibilities

12.3 Isotopic Fractionation

12.3.1 Carbon Isotopes

12.4 Measuring the Isotope Fraction: The Delta Notation

12.5 Sulfur Isotope Fractionation.

12.6 Using Ancient Isotopes to Look for Life

12.7 Morphological Evidence for Life

12.7.1 How are Microorganisms Fossilised?

12.7.2 Evidence for Fossil Microbial Life

12.7.3 Stromatolites

12.8 Biomarkers

12.9 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

12.10 Conclusions

Chapter 13 The History of the Earth

13.1 The Geological History of the Earth

13.2 Minerals and Glasses

13.3 Types of Rocks

13.3.1 Igneous Rocks

13.3.2 Sedimentary Rocks

13.3.3 Metamorphic Rocks

13.4 The Rock Cycle

13.5 The Composition of the Earth

13.6 The Earth's Crust and Upper Mantle

13.7 Plate Tectonics

13.8 Dating Rocks

13.9 Age-dating Rocks

13.9.1 Absolute Dating of Rocks

13.9.2 Relative Dating

13.9.3 Unconformities

13.10 Geological Time Scales

13.11 The Major Classifications of Geological Time

13.12 Some Geological Times and Biological Changes

13.12.1 The Precambrian

13.12.2 The Phanerozoic: The Rise of Animals and Complexity

13.13 Conclusion

Chapter 14 The Rise of Oxygen

14.1 Dramatic Changes on the Earth

14.2 Measuring Oxygen Through Time

14.2.1 Minerals that Form at Low Oxygen Concentrations

14.2.2 Changes in the Oxidation State of Elements

14.2.3 Banded Iron Formations and their Isotopes

14.2.4 Sulfur Isotope Fractionation

14.3 Summarising the Evidence for the Great Oxidation Event

14.4 The Source of Oxygen

14.5 Sinks for Oxygen

14.6 Why did Oxygen Rise?

14.7 Snowball Earth Episodes

14.8 Other Biological Consequences of the Rise of Oxygen

14.9 Oxygen and the Rise of Animals

14.10 Periods of High Oxygen

14.11 Conclusions

Chapter 15 Mass Extinctions

15.1 Extinction

15.2 What is Extinction?

15.3 Five Major Mass Extinctions

15.4 Other Extinctions in Earth History.

15.5 Causes of Mass Extinction.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed January 12, 2017).

ISBN:

1118913353

9781118913352

OCLC:

922324182