Trivia - Elements of life
December 18th, 2010 at 3:56:57 AM
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Scientists recently reported the discovery of a bacteria in California's Mono Lake that does not need phosphorous to survive. Previously, phosphorous was considered one of the six elements required by all living things, so this discovery has caused a revision to some long held assumptions.
Without looking it up, what are the remaining five required elements?
Without looking it up, what are the remaining five required elements?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
December 18th, 2010 at 4:51:48 AM
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Would Carbon be one ? Hydrogen and Oxygen as well ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
December 18th, 2010 at 5:17:07 AM
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plus nitrogen and potassium?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
December 18th, 2010 at 6:51:17 AM
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1 Carbon
2 Hydrogen
3 Oxygen
4 Nitrogen
I'm stumped for the fifth, but I'm going to say... hmmm.. Women!
No, seriously, sulfur?
2 Hydrogen
3 Oxygen
4 Nitrogen
I'm stumped for the fifth, but I'm going to say... hmmm.. Women!
No, seriously, sulfur?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
December 18th, 2010 at 5:56:52 PM
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I would have never figured that phosphorous was on the list in the first place.
So let's put SODIUM on the list, why not ?
So let's put SODIUM on the list, why not ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
December 18th, 2010 at 7:41:17 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQI would have never figured that phosphorous was on the list in the first place.
Phosphorous is part of a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is crucial in the transfer of chemical energy. Aside from the bacterium the OP cited, I know of no other organism that doesn't use it, and therefore need phosphorous to live.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
December 18th, 2010 at 7:53:32 PM
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The OP was a little misleading, the fascinating thing about that bacteria is that it uses arsenic instead of phosphorus to make ATP. The moment phosphorus is no longer present it begins metabolizing arsenic from its surrounding.
Its - Possessive; It's - "It is" / "It has"; There - Location; Their - Possessive; They're - "They are"
December 18th, 2010 at 7:57:43 PM
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From what I've been able to find on the net, it's not entirely ATAs that's being used, but more often ADPAs (2 phosphate, one arsenate). Still, the fact that it happened at all is pretty interesting since ATP is responsible for cellular energy.
I remember the morning of the announcement where the pre-announcement hype had everyone thinking that NASA had discovered extraterrestrial life. Three hours later we're talking about bacteria in California...
I remember the morning of the announcement where the pre-announcement hype had everyone thinking that NASA had discovered extraterrestrial life. Three hours later we're talking about bacteria in California...
"In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice."
-- Girolamo Cardano, 1563
December 18th, 2010 at 8:15:09 PM
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Quote: MathExtremistFrom what I've been able to find on the net, it's not entirely ATAs that's being used, but more often ADPAs (2 phosphate, one arsenate). Still, the fact that it happened at all is pretty interesting since ATP is responsible for cellular energy.
And since arsenic is deadly poisonous to most life.
But then bacteria can evolve very quickly.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
December 20th, 2010 at 11:14:45 AM
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Quote: AyecarumbaScientists recently reported the discovery of a bacteria in California's Mono Lake that does not need phosphorous to survive. Previously, phosphorous was considered one of the six elements required by all living things, so this discovery has caused a revision to some long held assumptions.
Without looking it up, what are the remaining five required elements?
Until recently, the "Big Six" were: CHNOPS, so the revised, "Big Five" are: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen..... and Sulfer.
Link to an article about the bacteria here.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
