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Water (H2O), carbon, and oxygen. Water is the functional carrier of life processes, carbon is the building block, along with hydrogen from the water and free oxygen for respiration.

There are "anaerobic" bacteria that live in environments on the Earth, but these use the same amino acids as other life. Instead of oxidation, these organisms use fermentation or other processes to obtain energy. There are also bacteria that use sulfates instead of ordinary oxygen.

Lifeforms not based on carbon and oxygen are subjects of speculation, but are unlikely for several reasons, and have never been observed.

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14y ago

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