Would Earth plants grow in an alien environment?

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This is a second question about the same world described in this question about human reaction to an alien world.



So here's the idea: human beings travel to and land on an Earth-like world with the intention of colonizing it.



This world is remarkably Earth-like: gravity close to 1G, oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere with very close to the same proportions as Earth, similar climate, and similar life forms. So, in principle, a human could walk around unprotected on this world.



However...



The life on this planet, while at a similar level of development to that of Earth, is not based on the same DNA/RNA bases or the same amino acids in proteins. In short, the lifeforms on this planet resemble Earth life, but the chemistry is different.



Would our familiar Earth plants grow in such an environment?



It seems unlikely to me that alien bacteria, viruses, etc. would attack our plants - after all, the genetic material and proteins are different.



But what about the soil? My first thought is that humus on this planet would be made up of organic material from decomposing alien life (decomposed by alien bacteria), and therefore wouldn't provide a medium in which Earth plants could get the nutrients they need. But is that correct? I guess to some extent it depends on how much the humus is decomposed (ie. just down to proteins & amino acids, or broken down even further).






biology xenobiology biochemistry







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  • 1




    You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
    – Michael Kjörling♦
    3 hours ago










  • Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
    – Dubukay
    2 hours ago














up vote
3
down vote

favorite












This is a second question about the same world described in this question about human reaction to an alien world.



So here's the idea: human beings travel to and land on an Earth-like world with the intention of colonizing it.



This world is remarkably Earth-like: gravity close to 1G, oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere with very close to the same proportions as Earth, similar climate, and similar life forms. So, in principle, a human could walk around unprotected on this world.



However...



The life on this planet, while at a similar level of development to that of Earth, is not based on the same DNA/RNA bases or the same amino acids in proteins. In short, the lifeforms on this planet resemble Earth life, but the chemistry is different.



Would our familiar Earth plants grow in such an environment?



It seems unlikely to me that alien bacteria, viruses, etc. would attack our plants - after all, the genetic material and proteins are different.



But what about the soil? My first thought is that humus on this planet would be made up of organic material from decomposing alien life (decomposed by alien bacteria), and therefore wouldn't provide a medium in which Earth plants could get the nutrients they need. But is that correct? I guess to some extent it depends on how much the humus is decomposed (ie. just down to proteins & amino acids, or broken down even further).






biology xenobiology biochemistry







share|improve this question



















  • 1




    You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
    – Michael Kjörling♦
    3 hours ago










  • Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
    – Dubukay
    2 hours ago












up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











This is a second question about the same world described in this question about human reaction to an alien world.



So here's the idea: human beings travel to and land on an Earth-like world with the intention of colonizing it.



This world is remarkably Earth-like: gravity close to 1G, oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere with very close to the same proportions as Earth, similar climate, and similar life forms. So, in principle, a human could walk around unprotected on this world.



However...



The life on this planet, while at a similar level of development to that of Earth, is not based on the same DNA/RNA bases or the same amino acids in proteins. In short, the lifeforms on this planet resemble Earth life, but the chemistry is different.



Would our familiar Earth plants grow in such an environment?



It seems unlikely to me that alien bacteria, viruses, etc. would attack our plants - after all, the genetic material and proteins are different.



But what about the soil? My first thought is that humus on this planet would be made up of organic material from decomposing alien life (decomposed by alien bacteria), and therefore wouldn't provide a medium in which Earth plants could get the nutrients they need. But is that correct? I guess to some extent it depends on how much the humus is decomposed (ie. just down to proteins & amino acids, or broken down even further).






biology xenobiology biochemistry







share|improve this question















This is a second question about the same world described in this question about human reaction to an alien world.



So here's the idea: human beings travel to and land on an Earth-like world with the intention of colonizing it.



This world is remarkably Earth-like: gravity close to 1G, oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere with very close to the same proportions as Earth, similar climate, and similar life forms. So, in principle, a human could walk around unprotected on this world.



However...



The life on this planet, while at a similar level of development to that of Earth, is not based on the same DNA/RNA bases or the same amino acids in proteins. In short, the lifeforms on this planet resemble Earth life, but the chemistry is different.



Would our familiar Earth plants grow in such an environment?



It seems unlikely to me that alien bacteria, viruses, etc. would attack our plants - after all, the genetic material and proteins are different.



But what about the soil? My first thought is that humus on this planet would be made up of organic material from decomposing alien life (decomposed by alien bacteria), and therefore wouldn't provide a medium in which Earth plants could get the nutrients they need. But is that correct? I guess to some extent it depends on how much the humus is decomposed (ie. just down to proteins & amino acids, or broken down even further).






biology xenobiology biochemistry




biology xenobiology biochemistry






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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edited 3 hours ago









Renan

35.2k1084182




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asked 3 hours ago









Kryten

1764




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  • 1




    You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
    – Michael Kjörling♦
    3 hours ago










  • Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
    – Dubukay
    2 hours ago












  • 1




    You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
    – Michael Kjörling♦
    3 hours ago










  • Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
    – Dubukay
    2 hours ago







1




1




You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
– Michael Kjörling♦
3 hours ago




You'll probably be interested in my old question Would humans be able to derive nutrition from foodstuffs found on alien planets?
– Michael Kjörling♦
3 hours ago












Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
– Dubukay
2 hours ago




Do the lifeforms on this planet use similar building blocks even if they don’t use the same DNA/RNA? I.e., can we assume that they also use PO4(3-) phosphate and NH3 ammonia molecules, or will they need to synthesize those from the atoms?
– Dubukay
2 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

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up vote
4
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Scientifically speaking, plants are Autotrophs, and they do not require life to thrive. They don't need DNA, proteins, or anything else produced by life.



After all, life must have begun with something that required no prior life to exist. Those things were molds, algae, perhaps others, and those things evolved into plants (that still require no prior life).



The only thing you might have to worry about is some toxic chemical in the soil (like salt or some metals) to which the native life is immune.






share|improve this answer






















  • Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
    – SealBoi
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @SealBoi Corrected.
    – Amadeus
    2 hours ago

















up vote
1
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I am not an expert on the matter, but I would think that so long as earth plants can get access to the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive they will thrive. Bacteria and fungi are not important for plants to grow, they're important to decompose dead organice matter (including plants).



I think the danger will be that earth plants won't be able to decompose eventually leading to the native plans being covered by dead organic matter from the earth plants. There was a period called the Carboniferous that is pretty well known due to the fact most coal formations happened during that time as a result of the decomposing problem.



Basically can your plants get nutrients on some way or not? If yes, they can thrive.






share|improve this answer




















  • There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
    – jamesqf
    2 hours ago










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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
4
down vote













Scientifically speaking, plants are Autotrophs, and they do not require life to thrive. They don't need DNA, proteins, or anything else produced by life.



After all, life must have begun with something that required no prior life to exist. Those things were molds, algae, perhaps others, and those things evolved into plants (that still require no prior life).



The only thing you might have to worry about is some toxic chemical in the soil (like salt or some metals) to which the native life is immune.






share|improve this answer






















  • Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
    – SealBoi
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @SealBoi Corrected.
    – Amadeus
    2 hours ago














up vote
4
down vote













Scientifically speaking, plants are Autotrophs, and they do not require life to thrive. They don't need DNA, proteins, or anything else produced by life.



After all, life must have begun with something that required no prior life to exist. Those things were molds, algae, perhaps others, and those things evolved into plants (that still require no prior life).



The only thing you might have to worry about is some toxic chemical in the soil (like salt or some metals) to which the native life is immune.






share|improve this answer






















  • Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
    – SealBoi
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @SealBoi Corrected.
    – Amadeus
    2 hours ago












up vote
4
down vote










up vote
4
down vote









Scientifically speaking, plants are Autotrophs, and they do not require life to thrive. They don't need DNA, proteins, or anything else produced by life.



After all, life must have begun with something that required no prior life to exist. Those things were molds, algae, perhaps others, and those things evolved into plants (that still require no prior life).



The only thing you might have to worry about is some toxic chemical in the soil (like salt or some metals) to which the native life is immune.






share|improve this answer














Scientifically speaking, plants are Autotrophs, and they do not require life to thrive. They don't need DNA, proteins, or anything else produced by life.



After all, life must have begun with something that required no prior life to exist. Those things were molds, algae, perhaps others, and those things evolved into plants (that still require no prior life).



The only thing you might have to worry about is some toxic chemical in the soil (like salt or some metals) to which the native life is immune.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 hours ago

























answered 2 hours ago









Amadeus

19.8k42977




19.8k42977











  • Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
    – SealBoi
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @SealBoi Corrected.
    – Amadeus
    2 hours ago
















  • Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
    – SealBoi
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @SealBoi Corrected.
    – Amadeus
    2 hours ago















Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
– SealBoi
2 hours ago




Fungi are heterotrophs, so they kind of do need other life forms.
– SealBoi
2 hours ago




1




1




@SealBoi Corrected.
– Amadeus
2 hours ago




@SealBoi Corrected.
– Amadeus
2 hours ago










up vote
1
down vote













I am not an expert on the matter, but I would think that so long as earth plants can get access to the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive they will thrive. Bacteria and fungi are not important for plants to grow, they're important to decompose dead organice matter (including plants).



I think the danger will be that earth plants won't be able to decompose eventually leading to the native plans being covered by dead organic matter from the earth plants. There was a period called the Carboniferous that is pretty well known due to the fact most coal formations happened during that time as a result of the decomposing problem.



Basically can your plants get nutrients on some way or not? If yes, they can thrive.






share|improve this answer




















  • There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
    – jamesqf
    2 hours ago














up vote
1
down vote













I am not an expert on the matter, but I would think that so long as earth plants can get access to the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive they will thrive. Bacteria and fungi are not important for plants to grow, they're important to decompose dead organice matter (including plants).



I think the danger will be that earth plants won't be able to decompose eventually leading to the native plans being covered by dead organic matter from the earth plants. There was a period called the Carboniferous that is pretty well known due to the fact most coal formations happened during that time as a result of the decomposing problem.



Basically can your plants get nutrients on some way or not? If yes, they can thrive.






share|improve this answer




















  • There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
    – jamesqf
    2 hours ago












up vote
1
down vote










up vote
1
down vote









I am not an expert on the matter, but I would think that so long as earth plants can get access to the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive they will thrive. Bacteria and fungi are not important for plants to grow, they're important to decompose dead organice matter (including plants).



I think the danger will be that earth plants won't be able to decompose eventually leading to the native plans being covered by dead organic matter from the earth plants. There was a period called the Carboniferous that is pretty well known due to the fact most coal formations happened during that time as a result of the decomposing problem.



Basically can your plants get nutrients on some way or not? If yes, they can thrive.






share|improve this answer












I am not an expert on the matter, but I would think that so long as earth plants can get access to the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive they will thrive. Bacteria and fungi are not important for plants to grow, they're important to decompose dead organice matter (including plants).



I think the danger will be that earth plants won't be able to decompose eventually leading to the native plans being covered by dead organic matter from the earth plants. There was a period called the Carboniferous that is pretty well known due to the fact most coal formations happened during that time as a result of the decomposing problem.



Basically can your plants get nutrients on some way or not? If yes, they can thrive.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 3 hours ago









TheShadowOfZama

1,41738




1,41738











  • There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
    – jamesqf
    2 hours ago
















  • There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
    – jamesqf
    2 hours ago















There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
– jamesqf
2 hours ago




There are important exceptions to microorganisms not being important to plant growth. Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit the roots of a plant, helping it extract nutrients from the soil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza And nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes &c are important for extracting nitrogen from the air: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… But savvy colonists would take a supply of both...
– jamesqf
2 hours ago

















 

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