Question

What are the unique features of water that make it most suitable for the origin of life?

Answer 1

Water makes around 60 to 75% of the body's human weight. Water has many properties that are critical to maintaining life. It is polar, allowing for the formation of hydrogen bonds, which allow ions and other polar molecules to dissolve in water. It is also referred to as an excellent solvent.

Complete answer:
Water has an important role in biology. The water fills in the cell to maintain its shape and structure. The water that is present in the cells makes up the pressure that opposes external forces. However, some plants, maintain their cell structure without water but they are needed for their survival. It helps in maintaining the right shape at the molecular level.

Water also helps in the formation of membranes around the cell. Every cell that is present on earth is surrounded by a membrane that is made of two layers of molecules called phospholipids. Phospholipids have two distinct components: a polar "head" and a non - polar "tail" that try to avoid water and interact with each other.

In addition to the influence of water on the shape of the cell, water plays a major role in the fundamental components of each cell: DNA and protein. Proteins are long chains of amino acids that are folded at a particular shape to function correctly. This structure receives signals and helps in the catalysis of a chemical reaction. Similarly, DNA is needed for proper decoding. Water molecules surround DNA in an ordered fashion so as to support its double-helix conformation.

Note: Life without water cannot exist. Water molecules not only serve as a solvent and reactant but can also promote hydrolysis that usually helps in the formation of essential organic molecules. Hydrolysis is important as it is a part of energy metabolism, for all living organisms to control all reactions.