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NASA and arsenic based life

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Thu, 2010-12-02 13:27

root

NASA and arsenic based life

root@NASA and arsenic based life [hr] http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/02/alien-life-nasa-titan-arsenic-... Apparently there are more modalities of life than carbon. Today, bacteria, tomorrow, the Factors.

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Thu, 2010-12-02 14:59

periklis

Re: NASA and arsenic based life

I was watching the press conference @ nasa/tv a while ago, and the concept of Pantropy < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantropy > (from Frederick Pohl's "Man Plus") came into mind. Perhaps future cosmonauts may turn out to be transhumans after all ?

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Thu, 2010-12-02 15:46

Axel the Chimeric Axel the Chimeric's picture

Re: NASA and arsenic based life

Pantropy does seem a lot easier and faster. I'm more of the opinion that by the time colonizing other worlds large-scale is worthwhile, mental uploading may be possible, however, which would make colonization infinitely easier and tougher in its own ways. Also, I am disappointed. I heard "alien life" and was told of a potential second abiogenesis that occurred on Earth, but these just appear to be extremophiles. It's exciting and interesting, to be sure, but the hype got to me and the possibility of a second distinct set of life on Earth seemed so intriguing... Ah well. Maybe Europa...

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Thu, 2010-12-02 18:23

Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture

Re: NASA and arsenic based life

At least this result shows that life is able to make do with alternate elements. Maybe not alternatives to carbon or hydrogen, but being able to substitute fairly common and important atoms hints at a great deal more flexibility. This in turn implies that life could be a lot more common, at least once it comes into existence. In EP, some biohackers likely try their hand at doing truly outrageous biochemistries. Ever tried to get a fluorine-silicon-ammonia biochemistry to work?

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Thu, 2010-12-02 23:38

Rhyx

Re: NASA and arsenic based life

Quote:
Also, I am disappointed. I heard "alien life" and was told of a potential second abiogenesis that occurred on Earth, but these just appear to be extremophiles.

With such extremes as arsenic in this case the line between abiogenesis and extremophile is pretty darn thin. It's a 1 to 1 substitution with something that downright deadly to other species that live on the same planet. I think we might find stuff in space that's actually NOT as alien as this is, so I'm still happy with the find.

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