One man's meat is another man's poison. And vice versa. The search for extraterrestrial life has opened our eyes to how diverse and tenacious life is here on Earth.
NASA astrobiology researchers have discovered a species of bacteria living in Mono Lake, Calif., that uses highly toxic arsenic as a normal part of its metabolism.
Arsenic is a deadly poison to human beings and most other life forms on Earth, but to little GFAJ-1, it's a vital ingredient for life.
The organism belongs to a common group of what are called the Gammaproteobacteria. But unlike any other organism on Earth, GFAJ-1 powers its metabolism with arsenic instead of phosphorus as all we other living creatures on Earth use.
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. How did life begin? How has it changed over time? Is there life elsewhere in space? What is the future of life in the universe?
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