Geochemistry and the Biosphere. Vladimir I. Vernadsky

functions. The average mass, the chemical composition, the geochemical energy, and the character of space (for instance left or right-handedness) turn out to be as distinguishing for organisms as the characteristics underlying biological classification. In this respect, a geochemist should distinguish between homogeneous living matter comprised of aggregates of one and the same species, genus, race, etc., and aggregates of heterogeneous matter that consist of organisms belonging to different species, genera, races, etc.