sc2_rules wrote:First - a "genetic mutation" is not possible. Genes = exons of DNA... DNA has a sugar- (ie: primarily carbon) phosphate backbone... not to mention all of the nucleotides bases are composed of cyclic carbon/nitrogenous ring structures.... A "mutation" would just be the insertion/deletion/alteration of a nucleotide base.... This arsenic-based life form is definitely not the result of a genetic mutation.
Second - you can't conclude this is an 'extra-terrestrial life form'. Only that life exists which is not carbon/sulphur/nitrogen/phosphorous/etc-based as we currently know it. Honestly... this should be really obvious. Pretty egotistical to think that all life evolved as the majority of life on our planet did. The RNA-world hypothesis only really pertains to the formation of our own 'type' of DNA.
I would just call this a really incredible physical verification of what should be obvious for those that have a strong understanding of biology.
First, you know nothing about biology except lots of big words!
Second, Sc2 does not rule, Phenom rules.
Third, nice first post, bad first impression.
Actually, what he says makes sense...and I don't even know anything about science.
You're wrong, SC2 does rule. And I'm pretty sure it's not a first impression, as I have a pretty good guess at who it is and he's been around for a long while. And if that guess is correct, I think he knows a lot more about biology than anyone else here.
Well. First part of my post is actually correct, but it doesn't apply here. I only read the NASA releases which were blowing a pretty simple thing out of proportion. All this OMGWTF bacteria has done is incorporate arsenic into its DNA backbone in place of phosphorous. And at that, it's not even an obligate... ie: it can still incorporate phosphate if arsenic isn't available in its environment. Since arsenic has pretty much the same chemical properties as phosphorous (it's only 1 element below in the periodic table) this isn't really all that impressive. If anything, I'd guess that this OMGWTF bacteria's incorporation of Ar was very very recent in history.
Had this been a non-carbon-based lifeform as they actually imply, then my post would have been correct. I wasn't as skeptical as I should have been with the original NASA release, however. Shame on me! Anyways, I only logged in to contribute to a thread that interested me, but couldn't remember my old username. Regardless... thanks for the ad hominem reply phenom.
- Matt you are correct. Hope your exam preps are going well! Perhaps we can catch some pew*pew over xmas break if you're around.
omg pew pew is my word! lol,
Also that's what makes it an important discovery, is that even if it can live off of both, that's the whole point it can survive
on a poison as well as phosphorus ! :p
Also s3lf, maybe we can play?
Despised or idolized... either way I'm recognized!
Don't be so quick to judge me You only see what I choose to show
I haven't played fps in a long time (probably around a year), and haven't played an ID fps in much longer than that. So we likely won't be getting a game in the pewpew style you probably play. Sorry duke.
Wow, DNA that's based on arsenic ?? Go figure. I guess it's good as it shows you that you have to think differently when considering the possibilities of what MIGHT be out there.
sc2_rules wrote:
- Matt you are correct. Hope your exam preps are going well! Perhaps we can catch some pew*pew over xmas break if you're around.
I'm actually going on a Carribean cruise with my whole extended family for a wedding in about a week, getting back just after boxing day. May or may not be around then depending on whether we hammered with some snow. If ski conditions are good, I'll probably be down in Buffalo skiing and our internet is poopy there. If I have a decent amount of time, I'm going to try to get back into SC2 in the new year once I'm back in school (on my last coop term right now). We'll get some games in sometime! haha
