What specific light isotope does terrestrial life show a preference for during metabolism?
Answer
Carbon-12
Terrestrial life forms exhibit a distinct chemical signature based on metabolic preferences. Specifically, Earth-based organisms show a strong preference for utilizing the lighter isotope of carbon, Carbon-12, during their metabolic processes, which involves building complex biological molecules. Consequently, if Martian samples contain organic material, researchers will look for a measurable enrichment or excess of Carbon-12 compared to the typical background levels of carbon isotopes found in the surrounding Martian geology. A statistically significant skew toward this lighter isotope provides compelling, though not absolute, evidence that biological activity shaped the material.
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