Which of the following is NOT an absolute requirement for life?

Question

a.) oxygen
b.) food
c.) water
d.) adequate body temperature
e.) atmospheric pressure

Answer 1

Sorry, I may have to say ALL OF THEM.

a. Oxygen
Some bacteria can definitely survive without oxygen by using anaerobic respiration

b. Food
Depends on what kind of food. Plants don't need any food. They make their own food by using photosynthesis. But you can always argue the raw materials for photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water, are their food.

c. Water
This is pretty much needed for all living organisms. But some plant seeds can survive total dryness for many many years, and once given the opportunity they will still germinate.

d. Adequate body temperature
Nope. Low level animals don't need this. And some bacteria can survive in nearly boiling water.

e. Nope. Insects can survive in outer space for many hours. And all ocean creatures survive under much higher pressure than atmospheric pressure (due to pressure from sea water).

Answer 2

Oxygen! Some bacteria are anaerobic, meaning that they do not require oxygen in order to survive. In fact, they would die when exposed to oxygen. They use other means in order to acquire energy. All living things, however, need food, in whatever form. Water is a requirement for photosynthesis, the main source of energy for all living things. All organisms also need a particular body temperature, whether they be thermophilic (heat-loving) or not. Atmospheric pressure, of course, is necessary for the organism to maintain intact. They would burst if there is no atmospheric pressure, unless there is a proven theory that organisms may exist in a vaccuum. In other words, aliens floating about in outer space exist.

Answer 3

e. Atmospheric pressure.

Organisms survive and adapt at a wide range of pressures, and humans also endure a variety of pressures, depending on altitude. Although I cannot see a situation where there is no atmospheric pressure without there being a lack of atmosphere. Even in orbit, the spacecraft are pressurised. Oxygen is a requirement for life, as it is used in chemical reactions within organisms, even the source of the oxygen is not atmospheric. It is also a constituent of DNA and RNA.

Answer 4

oxygen.
many organisms are anaerobic (cannot function in oxygen) and use other compounds in its place.