This note covers the following topics: Properties of life, The cell,
Life definitions in astrobiology, Chemical properties of life, The chemical
elements of life, The water molecule, Chemical bonds in biology, Functional
groups in biomolecules, Biological macromolecules, Nucleic acids: RNA and DNA,
Molecules used for energy exchange, Genetic sequences and classification of
organisms.
This book addresses
important current and historical topics in astrobiology and the search for life
beyond Earth, including the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.