I. Life in the Universe

• What is Life?
  • Life is matter that can reproduce itself and evolve as survival dictates.
    
    
  • Life on Earth is carbon-based. Carbon can easily form long molecule chains.
    
    
  • Most life on Earth is composed of cells (viruses are not), which have proteins as their building blocks. Proteins have amino acids as their building blocks.
    
    
  • The molecule DNA is located in the nuclei of cells. This molecule carries all of the genetic information. It is through this molecule that life is able to reproduce itself.
    
    
  • Evolution takes place by mutation coupled with natural selection so lifeforms better adapted to the given environment will survive and reproduce more with these survival traits.

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