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Comment by mempko | Hacker News Reader

I think the closest to a 'low gravity' environment is the oceans. So I suspect yes, life would form in low gravity environments. It would likely have more rotational symmetry vs mirror symmetry land animals have. You see a hint of that in ocean life where things are more...round.

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Now you've got me wondering - what is the difference between buoyancy and low gravity (with respect to organism development/evolution)? Would there be any meaningful differences structurally?

I would think yes. In a submarine, the vessel is buoyant, yet the contents are subject to regular gravity. I think the same reasoning applies to a body and its organs and fluids. Contrast with space where everything floats.

> I think the closest to a 'low gravity' environment is the oceans.

The oceans are not a low gravity environment, and gravity is no less when floating in water. Depending on the density of the water and the object that is floating, it is buoyancy that causes floating in water. Gravity works the same on the floater and the water.

And we could correctly assume gravity is essential for life, as without gravity, not even the Earth would not revolve around the Sun, let alone whatever it is that life is supposed to form on in low gravity, and we know that light is essential for life.

Most sealife has mirror symmetry though, doesn't it?

I guess jellyfish, urchins meet the rotational symmetry though.

That’s about aerodynamics (hydrodynamics?), as water is more resistive than air.

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