Astromicrobiology

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AstromicrobiologyMicroorganisms depend on water, light, minerals, carbon and other elements for survival; they have complicated lives and evolve continually. The requirements for their existences often vary based on several factors such as climatic conditions, temperatures, and nature of the environment. Astromicrobiology is a field that specifies in finding the requirements of different microorganisms and limitations that could hinder their lives provided that they could exist outside the planet.
Conditions needed for Microorganism to Survive elsewhere
Temperature is a critical factor to consider for the existence of microorganisms. Microorganisms can exist at a given temperature that favors adequate microbial activities. Moreover, they can adjust to different temperatures since extremely low or high temperatures can favor their survival (Schönknecht, Et al. 1207). For the microorganisms to exist elsewhere, the issue of temperature should often be considered. Thermophiles are microorganisms that can exist in an environment of high temperatures. However, the conditions on the outside planet could have higher temperatures than what thermophiles can endure.
Water is a key component among most groups of the microorganism (Tazi Et al. 525). It ensures that different homeostatic activities are conducted efficiently. Furthermore, water is often described as the basis of life of any organism. It balances the availability of oxygen and other minerals in the microorganism’s growth.

Minerals are required to ensure that microorganisms continue to live; nitrogen is an essential mineral that maintains the lives of organisms.
Carbon sources ensure that the microorganism accesses the required energy. For example, organic acids are broken down through metabolism to release oxygen. Water and light ensure that the microorganism such acidophiles and halophiles regulate pH across the microorganism’s cell membrane (Hedlund, Et al. 865).
Extremophiles and Metabolic Diversity
Extremophiles exist in an environment of extreme conditions since they have dynamic flexibility that enables them to adjust to any condition (Hedlund, Et al. 865). For instance, the viable bacterial spores have a long lifespan on earth due to its extreme endurance to radiations and other life-threatening conditions. Microorganisms would often survive wherever they are found. The diverse genetic lineage is a common feature that enhances their ability to exist under any conditions (Tazi Et al., 525).
The metabolic diversity also changes based on the increased catalytic activity and amino acid accumulation. The use of heat shock proteins ensures that the extremophiles conserve their genes hence continued survival outside the earth (Harrison, Et al. 204). The metabolites are broken down to provide the energy required for the survival. Furthermore, the defensive mechanisms depend on the strengths of the molecular elements to survive the ionizing radiations thus survival in harsh environments. Microbial life often requires sufficient sources of energy, life outside the earth contains carbon which the microorganism would often use for their survival since the earth is stored in sedimentary rock and carbon is a common element even outside the earth (Hedlund, Et al. 865).
The extremophiles’ life is diverse due to its adaptability features and the metabolism that enables them to survive in extreme temperatures and even in acidic solutions. The most significant feature of these microorganisms is its ability to adjust to extreme conditions (Harrison, Et al. 204).
Conclusion
Microorganism often requires basic elements to survive harsh conditions. The extremophile is an example of a group of microorganisms that can survive outside the earth since they have a diverse microbial life. Temperatures, metabolic activities, and light are often limited with life outside the earth. Therefore, most of the common microorganism would not survive if taken outside the earth. However, the extremophiles can regulate metabolic pathways to fit the condition available outside the earth.

Work Cited
Harrison, Jesse P., et al. “The limits for life under multiple extremes.” Trends in microbiology 21.4 (2013): 204-212.
Hedlund, Brian P., et al. “Impact of single-cell genomics and metagenomics on the emerging view of extremophile “microbial dark matter”.” Extremophiles 18.5 (2014): 865-875.
Schönknecht, Gerald, et al. “Gene transfer from bacteria and archaea facilitated evolution of an extremophilic eukaryote.” Science 339.6124 (2013): 1207-1210.
Tazi, Loubna, et al. “Life in extreme environments: microbial diversity in Great Salt Lake, Utah.” Extremophiles 18.3 (2014): 525-535.