Open AccessLimits to life at low temperatures and at reduced water contents and water activities
Author(s) -
P. Mazur
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
origins of life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2214-7047
pISSN - 0302-1688
DOI - 10.1007/bf00928665
Subject(s) - liquid water , function (biology) , environmental science , range (aeronautics) , materials science , thermodynamics , physics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , composite material
Liquid water is generally considered an absolute requisite for functional life; consequently, life is expected to function only over the range of temperatures that permit its existence. These limits, however, do not apply to cell survival. Some cells can survive the closest attainable approach to 0 K, and some can survive the loss of over 99% of their water.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom