Arsenic based lifeforms discoverd

[phranchk]

It's still a carbon based life form, but NASA scientists discovered bacteria that can take up arsenic and possibly assimilate it into their DNA. It replaces phosphorous. This appears to be the first life form on Earth discovered that does not need one of the 6 basic elements all other organisms need to survive (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and sulfur).

Pretty interesting find.

http://www.digitaljo.../article/300975

 

[canucklehead]

Yeah that was the NASA press conference today. it pretty much expands the potential life supporting plantet count to... well... nearly everything, because now we have no clue as to what planets could have life because they clearly do not need those elements (or at least all of them) to support life.

 

[supraman]

Yeah that was the NASA press conference today. it pretty much expands the potential life supporting plantet count to... well... nearly everything, because now we have no clue as to what planets could have life because they clearly do not need those elements (or at least all of them) to support life.

life outside of Earth exists. I have no doubt. But the nerd in me read the OP and just went WOW

 

[canucklehead]

life outside of Earth exists. I have no doubt. But the nerd in me read the OP and just went WOW

yeah, and this discovery pretty much makes it even more likely that life exists outside of our solar system (hell Titan may support biologic life, given these recent discoveries.)

 

[MassHavoc]

Say what now?

 

[supraman]

Say what now?

What we are saying is that you can poison someone with Arsenic and now claim that you were thinking they were a life form that need arsenic to survive.

 

[the canadian dream]

Okay you what you are telling me is there will be people made of arsenic running around?



We haven't even got rid of the Mexicans yet and now we have to deal with arsenic people? Will whitey ever win?







OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!





Anyone I miss offending besides the slant eyes?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Okay you what you are telling me is there will be people made of arsenic running around?



We haven't even got rid of the Mexicans yet and now we have to deal with arsenic people? Will whitey ever win?







OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!





Anyone I miss offending besides the slant eyes?

LOL!

 

[TSD]

the only thing the scientists were bummed about is despite its extremely foreign nature, it still shares an origin with all life on the planet, it isnt a completely "independent" line of life.

 

[roshinaya]

the only thing the scientists were bummed about is despite its extremely foreign nature, it still shares an origin with all life on the planet, it isnt a completely "independent" line of life.

Yeah, I was hoping it would show that there would have been a separate tree of life, now it's just another extremophile. Still it's a nice discovery, but hardly ground-breaking. So life can manage in really hostile places, we knew this already.

 

[TSD]

Yeah, I was hoping it would show that there would have been a separate tree of life, now it's just another extremophile. Still it's a nice discovery, but hardly ground-breaking. So life can manage in really hostile places, we knew this already.

Thing is, I dont think its unlikely that it did happen, at one time on earth there may have been several independently occuring lifeforms, but only one of the lineages survived.

 

[roshinaya]

Thing is, I dont think its unlikely that it did happen, at one time on earth there may have been several independently occuring lifeforms, but only one of the lineages survived.

Maybe the others already left this planet and our lineage is the slow Special person one.

 

[MassHavoc]

I get that it's a big deal and a new life form and everything. blaah blahblah. I don't get the detailed science, but what I really can't figure out is.... WHY IS NASA DISCOVERING THIS ON EARTH?



No wonder they are getting canned, they've been studying the wrong fucking planet this whole time.

 

[supraman]

I get that it's a big deal and a new life form and everything. blaah blahblah. I don't get the detailed science, but what I really can't figure out is.... WHY IS NASA DISCOVERING THIS ON EARTH?



No wonder they are getting canned, they've been studying the wrong fucking planet this whole time.

Lol, that's a good one.

 

[JOVE23]

I get that it's a big deal and a new life form and everything. blaah blahblah. I don't get the detailed science, but what I really can't figure out is.... WHY IS NASA DISCOVERING THIS ON EARTH?



No wonder they are getting canned, they've been studying the wrong fucking planet this whole time.

Dad took away the keys to the spaceship, so Junior has to stay home and play with his chemistry set in the basement.