4 ms·
I wonder if this sort of silica coating could be an alternative to lipid-wall cells for silicate-based extraterrestrial life.
by maxander 8y ago
I wonder if this sort of silica coating could be an alternative to lipid-wall cells for silicate-based extraterrestrial life.
- s0rce 8y agoI assume you mean cell membranes (cell walls are in found in plants, fungi and bacteria and made from polysacharides). However, it seems like an impermeable wall is less the issue than trans-membrane structures which facilitate selective transport of different species (ions, molecules, etc).
- bonoboTP 8y agoWhat does species mean here? I haven't seen this usage before.
- s0rce 8y agoChemical species, basically just another term for a specific molecule/ion, there is a specific definition and it is apparently a bit more specific than what I thought: https://goldbook.iupac.org/html/C/CT01038.html https://goldbook.iupac.org/html/C/CT01038.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_species https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_species
- Gormisdomai 8y agodoesn't the fact that dry water balls absorb gasses imply that the membranes are at least partially permeable?
- s0rce 8y agoGood point, I guess its just somewhat porous. Still missing selective transport but we're reaching now.