Life :: essays research papers

Until recently, scientists believed that the sole source of null responsible for flavour on earth was the sun. In 1977, a sort of scientists re searching the theory of plate tectonics,traveled to the floor of the equatorial Pacific sea and observe something that could possibly explain how keepbegan on this planet. From the Galapagos Rifts thermalsprings, scientists spy densely populated communities ofseveral species never before observed. Since that time the federal Government has devoted more than 10 million dollarsto research these communities and their evolutionary history. This figure, to many scientists dismay, is dramatically lessthan that of the space exploration programs budget. Forexample, in 1992, the establishment budget for oceanographyresearch was $600 million while NASA spent 8.5 billion. We issuemore approximately the space around us than we do about our ownhome. Only 1 percent of the sea floor has been mapped. The seais the largest, most inaccessible, and least understoodecosystem on this planet.Since studies of these communities began, previous notionsthat cold darkness, and utmost(prenominal) pressure are inimical to life acquit been disproved. We now write out that an ecosystem can besustained by unusual energy sources. The animals that havebeen discovered in hydrothermal vents are fascinating as wellas extremely important. The structure of these creatures issuch that a new kingdom has been discovered/created. Previously scientists divided the living world into twokingdoms bacteria, also cognize as prokaryote andeukaryotes (plants and animals). The difference between thetwo kingdoms was their genetics. The DNA of these saucilydiscovered animals was distinct from the two other kingdoms. They have been called archaea. Research on these animals islimited since they do not grow and culture well in alaboratory. These animals live in extremely hot temperaturesof 160 degrees Fahrenheit(postnominal) and higher, while microbes have beenfound living in boiling water. This apocalypse surely mustchange all of the "rules" we have for health standards. These new discovered facts must dramatically change the way wethink of life on earth.Living in these vents are entire communities ofinvertebrates tube worms, mussels, clams, and fifty-fifty shrimp. Inthe absence of light and without the photosynthesizingplankton that provide most sea life with food, these animalshave an alternate way to live. These invertebrates haveformed symbiotic relationships with the bacteria living withthem. The mechanics of this relationship are incrediblyinteresting. Bacteria blast on sulfide which is found in ventwater (hydrogen sulfide). They hire the sulfides chemical energyto produce organic carbon compounds similar to how plants ingestion solar energy in photosynthesis. The bacteria employchemical preferably than light energy to transform inorganic