Upon release from the cells in the apical meristem, auxin collects primarily on the darker side of the stem and stimulates cell elongation. Thus, the cells on the side not directly exposed to light will grow much faster than the opposing side, and the stem will curve towards the light source. Due to surface tension, a property that minimizes surface area, liquid would become spherical if allowed to free fall without the Earth's gravity. On Earth, gravity overpowers surface tension, and liquids form flat surfaces. Two microgravity research scientist burst water balloons in a reduced gravity plane to see if they could deploy large liquid drops.
Terrestrial life is entirely DNA based.
But, when we search for life beyond Earth, we do not necessarily go looking for DNA-based life. Living systems require some discernible structure that maintains the integrity of the body plan while using energy and other materials from the environment to sustain it and to produce subsequent generations. One common indicator of life is that it changes its environment in ways that non-biological processes do not. In the search for life on other planets, scientists will look for disequilibria signatures, or chemicals in an environment that should not be there unless something biological was producing them. A commitment to exploration of Mars is also in the near future.