carbon-based
Like all organisms
Carbon-based describes life forms or compounds built on carbon atoms, which form the molecular backbone of all known living things.
The term appears in scientific contexts discussing organic chemistry and in science fiction contrasting earthly life with hypothetical alternatives: carbon-based life forms, We're just carbon-based beings trying to understand the universe.
Organic compounds forming proteins
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- RNAGene expression molecule
nucleotides · lipids · carbohydrates · cellulose · hemoglobin · keratin · adenine · thymine
Crystallized carbon gemstone
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
carbonaceous · limestone · sedimentary · sequestration · peat · anthracite · bitumen · shale
Carbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- ethaneTwo-carbon alkane
- propaneFlammable hydrocarbon fuel
- butaneFlammable hydrocarbon gas
benzene · alkane · alkene · alkyne · aromatic · ketone · aldehyde · alcohol
Individual living entities
- cellsBasic biological units
- eukaryotesNuclear-membrane organisms
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
- multicellularHaving multiple cells
unicellular · bacteria · fungi · plants · animals · metabolism · homeostasis · photosynthesis
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
- fossilsPreserved ancient organism traces
paleontology · extinction · speciation · common ancestry · phylogeny · Darwin · origin of life · abiogenesis
amino acids
Organic compounds forming proteins
RNA · nucleotides · lipids · carbohydrates · cellulose · hemoglobin · keratin · adenine · thymine · uracil
diamond
Crystallized carbon gemstone
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
fossil fuels · carbonaceous · limestone · sedimentary · sequestration · peat · anthracite · bitumen · shale · decomposition
hydrocarbons
Carbon-hydrogen organic compounds
butane · benzene · alkane · alkene · alkyne · aromatic · ketone · aldehyde · alcohol · ether
organisms
Individual living entities
- cellsBasic biological units
- eukaryotesNuclear-membrane organisms
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
multicellular · unicellular · bacteria · fungi · plants · animals · metabolism · homeostasis · photosynthesis · respiration
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
fossils · paleontology · extinction · speciation · common ancestry · phylogeny · Darwin · origin of life · abiogenesis · primordial soup
carbon-basedsilicon-based
Containing element fourteen
inorganic · metallic · silicate · mineral · crystalline
carbon-basedinorganic
Not from living matter
mineral · abiotic · lithic · geological · petrochemical
carbon-basedsynthetic
Produced artificially, not natural
abiotic · man-made · artificial · inorganic · non-biological
base, basement, carbon, based, carbohydrate, carbine, carbonate, carbonize, carbonic