Life as we know it?

**iamwilliam** · 13 Jan. 2010 04:10am

We all know that in order for life to exist there must be air, water, ect.
But what if none of that ever existed?
Do you think that "life" would have found a way to "exist"?

why or why not?

**C0FFINCASE** · 13 Jan. 2010 04:57pm

Life would not exist. Think about it like this: There is an exact set of things necessary for life to exist. There is a football field work of possible arrangements and the the head of a pin inside that field is representative of the size of those need for life to exist. Then there are countless possibility for the life that could exist.
The odd that you and I exist at this moment in time this way are incalculable. Statistically life should never have happened.

13 Jan. 2010 05:20pm

Certainly not in any way as it is now. Probably nothing more than a single-celled organism. But, then again, without water, there can't even be cells. So if life managed to happen, it wouldn't be anything we've ever seen or experienced. And, it likely wouldn't happen in the first place.

**Raivu** · 13 Jan. 2010 05:21pm

well we've learned to adapt to our environment, and we've evolved accordingly.

No, we wouldn't survive (nothing can survive without oxygen, or any general food/energy source)

**Smithno13** · 18 Jan. 2010 01:36am

Idk.
All life as we know it depends on oxygen and water, but in an environment lacking all of these things... Who says the same could not have happened in a sub zero planet of liquid hydrogen? Certainly everything would be extremely different. It would all develop and evolve way differently.

18 Jan. 2010 05:33am

Actually, just water. Oxygen isn't a necessity for life. Just for aerobic life.

Sub-zero can't support life, because everything would be frozen. If the parts of life are frozen, they cannot function, and therefore cannot be alive [if they aren't doing anything].

Theoretically, there may be some other strange combination of atoms that will make a self-reproducing entity. But there is no known other method of sustaining life.

I'd deem it impossible. Simply because of the lack of water. Taking out DNA is one thing. Taking out water is likely erasing the possibility of life in any way, shape, or form.

**ShoguN** · 18 Jan. 2010 05:49am

There are some bacteria that can "live" without oxygen and water so, given enough time, living organisms could develop and evolve without the need for water or oxygen ect. nature is quite versatile. after all, we exist dont we?

18 Jan. 2010 05:55am

There is no bacteria that can live without water. There is bacteria that can live without oxygen, hence my saying this exact statement in my last post.

**Coak** · 18 Jan. 2010 05:57am

God created it so we could live like this.
Your argument is invalid.

18 Jan. 2010 05:59am

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage.

So little science in your post in this science topic.

**Coak** · 18 Jan. 2010 06:06am

Originally Posted by GAMEchief

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage.

So little science in your post in this science topic.

The lord giveth and taketh away.
Prove me wrong.

**Souleater** · 18 Jan. 2010 06:23am

if those main components didnt exist we would be the very most simple single cell organisms. we would survive on virtually nothing, reproduce asexually and probably be silicon based life-forms instead of carbon since in theory a silicon based organism doesnt need air or water to survive, just the primal instinct to live, nothing more.

**Smithno13** · 18 Jan. 2010 06:38am

Thats kindof what I was trying to get across souleater... All living things, as we know today, require oxygen and water. That doesnt mean, however, that some completely different lifeform that looks nothing similar to anything we have ever discovered, could live in an oxygenless environment.

**Souleater** · 18 Jan. 2010 07:03am

Originally Posted by Smithno13

Thats kindof what I was trying to get across souleater... All living things, as we know today, require oxygen and water. That doesnt mean, however, that some completely different lifeform that looks nothing similar to anything we have ever discovered, could live in an oxygenless environment.

exactly. there are theories that if something doesnt happen one way, it will still happen just under different circumstances. life-form development is onething, in theory if everything would still happen just through a seperate cicumstance, in theory even the holocaust would still take place, if Hitler was dead or stayed an artist it wouldnt be Hitler, it would be another pissed off german soldier but it would still happen. same principals.

18 Jan. 2010 08:01pm

Originally Posted by Smithno13

Thats kindof what I was trying to get across souleater... All living things, as we know today, require oxygen and water. That doesnt mean, however, that some completely different lifeform that looks nothing similar to anything we have ever discovered, could live in an oxygenless environment.

Dude, I've replied to this at least three times. We already know there can be life without oxygen. There already IS life without oxygen. There can't be life without water.
As far as my limited knowledge of chemistry goes, there is no molecule that has the same properties as water - properties that are necessary for any reproductive abilities of any sort to take place. Water is extremely unique in its composition and properties, which is why we're always on a search for a planet with water, not water-like material - because there is no water-like material.

**Gina** · 18 Jan. 2010 08:02pm

We would all die and nothing would be left

18 Jan. 2010 08:08pm

i think it could kuz things adap
idk thats what i think u can think other ways idc

**Smithno13** · 18 Jan. 2010 08:20pm

Gamechief, you are thinking on a level on known knowledge.
We know that life cannot exist without water.
2000 years ago, we knew that the earth was flat.

18 Jan. 2010 10:02pm

This isn't a philosophy topic, therefore we are talking about a level of known knowledge. We know a lot, and a Hell of a lot more than we know 2000 years ago. We have the periodic table and extensive amounts of information about each element, and we know that nothing compares to the qualities of water - which are qualities necessary for reproduction.

20 Jan. 2010 09:25am

The main this is the earth wouldn't exist.
Thats a fact and final.

**sighkick** · 20 Jan. 2010 10:47pm

No...thats impossible the human lung needs air to breathe and water to drink...also if we did somehow adapt wed prolly be sea creatures haha

**iAKA** · 18 Feb. 2010 09:59am

If the fundamental things would have not been there, then I am sure humans and other present animals won't exist.

But Im sure that without these, the genes or unicellular beings would have found another way of evolution which is at present not known.

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