BiBottomBoy Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 So, what do you think about NASA discovering a new arsenic rather than carbon based life form? Anyone worried that there is a planet out there populated with arsenic dragons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RA1 Posted December 3, 2010 Members Share Posted December 3, 2010 Not unless these dragons have to be viewed under a microscope. It is interesting that we have had the opinion that all life had a few elements in common but none of them were arsenic. Best regards, RA1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiBottomBoy Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 The new arsenic based overlords are not pleased by your comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RA1 Posted December 3, 2010 Members Share Posted December 3, 2010 Sounds like poison pen writing to me. Best regards, RA1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiBottomBoy Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 Skynet will be in touch soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MsGuy Posted December 3, 2010 Members Share Posted December 3, 2010 So, what do you think about NASA discovering a new arsenic rather than carbon based life form? Close but no cigar. The critter has the ability to substitute arsenic for phosphorus, rather like your own body can substitute strontium for calcium. That it can do this even in its DNA molecules is what has given the biology types conniption fits. DNA was thought to be a no go zone for substitutes. Now a non carbon based life form would be truly alien. I recall there was some speculation several decades back that, under high temperatures and pressures, silicon could perform the role carbon does on Earth. Under those conditions fluorine fills in for oxygen, if I remember right. For the life of me, I can't fill in the blank for what was proposed to fulfill the function of H2O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NeedSome Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Close but no cigar. The critter has the ability to substitute arsenic for phosphorus, rather like your own body can substitute strontium for calcium. That it can do this even in its DNA molecules is what has given the biology types conniption fits. DNA was thought to be a no go zone for substitutes. Now a non carbon based life form would be truly alien. I recall there was some speculation several decades back that, under high temperatures and pressures, silicon could perform the role carbon does on Earth. Under those conditions fluorine fills in for oxygen, if I remember right. For the life of me, I can't fill in the blank for what was proposed to fulfill the function of H2O. Ms Guy, you're pretty hot when you talk all smarty like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JKane Posted December 4, 2010 Members Share Posted December 4, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MsGuy Posted December 4, 2010 Members Share Posted December 4, 2010 Ms Guy, you're pretty hot when you talk all smarty like that! If I could somehow recoup all the hours I've squandered reading science fiction, I'd have a decade or so extra to chase cute male carbon based life forms. Oh well, what's done is done. Talk about youth being wasted on the young! I didn't have a clue as to what was important. ---- Edit: Just ran across this interesting article in the NYTimes on the discovery. P.S. I liked your cartoon, JKane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiBottomBoy Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 I wonder if I could evolve into a vodka based life form? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
