living substance of the biosphere includes in its membership as organic (chemical) and inorganic (mineral) components.
than 90%, formed mainly of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen was ground vegetation.According to experts, the living matter - is one of the most "powerful" Earth geochemical forces.It develops at the intersection of the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere.In adverse conditions, the life processes stop or slow down to such an extent that there is no visible manifestations of life.Thus, developing a state of suspended animation.
Living matter has its specific features.
First of all, it is characterized by a huge amount of free energy.In the context of the inorganic world to the living matter (in terms of energy) can be equated with the short-lived lava flows have not had time to harden.
One of the main features is the rate of chemical reactions.They are in the living matter, unlike inanimate occur thousands of times faster.
distinctive feature is the composition.Living matter includes separate compounds (enzymes, proteins, etc.).These chemical compounds exhibit stability only under favorable conditions.To a large extent this feature is typical for mineral components.
living matter makes voluntary movement.Vernadsky, believing that this movement is largely self-regulating, singled out two of its special forms.The passive is formed by breeding and is inherent in plants and animals.Organisms conveyance direction (characteristic more animal than to plants) creates an active form of movement.Living matter is different as the desire to fill the entire space.
characteristic feature is the large chemical and morphological diversity.Living matter, unlike the still, may not only be a liquid or gaseous medium.
exist in nature disperse body - individual organisms.They make up living matter.At the same time, it is not on the planet in one morphologically pure form - in the form of a population of organisms, representing one kind - it is always biocenoses.
Continuity alternation of generations provides a genetic link modern living matter that existed in past ages.This feature is an evolutionary process.In other words, the reproduction is carried out not on the basis of absolute copy of past generations, and through biochemical and morphological changes.
There are five main functions of living matter.
- energy function is the absorption of solar energy during photosynthesis, and by the decomposition of the substances saturated - absorption of chemical energy.
- During vital activity of certain types of selective accumulation occurs.This function is called concentration.It may be massive increase in the concentration of components in a specific environment, or accumulation of one or the other member, irrespective of the environment.
- destructive function is abiogenous mineralization of organic matter in the expansion of non-living inorganic products involved in the biological cycle formed components.
- environmental functions is the conversion of physical and chemical environment.
- Due food interactions are moved a considerable mass of elements in a horizontal direction and against the force of gravity.Thus, the transport function is performed.
