ABSTRACT
Life on earth developed in liquid water, and its properties are therefore critically important to the physical and chemical processes necessary for the maintenance and perpetuation of living organisms (Franks, 2000). Water participates in four major classes of biological reactions: oxidation, photosynthesis, hydrolysis, and condensation. It is key to the stabilization of biologically signicant structures of proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates, and lipids (Franks, 1983, 1985). In most animals, blood-an aqueous medium-transports oxygen and nutrients to cells and disposes of carbon dioxide. In plants, a watery uid, sap, transports mineral nutrients and water upward from the root system. Cells being roughly 80% water by weight, processes such as protein synthesis occur in aqueous solution.
