My Biology Book Just Got Outdated: NASA

[furtopia02]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/02/nasa.extraterrestrial.life/?hpt=T2


In summary.. NASA discovers bacteria in Mono Lake, CA with DNA that doesn't match the building blocks of any other living thing on our planet. This bacteria has arsenic in its DNA - something previously thought to be impossible.

NASA is supposed to release more information about their findings a little while later this afternoon. I'm sure it wont be hard to find on TV or other news websites. This is quite interesting, and really changes a lot about what we understand in biology. This essentially means we have to again answer the question: what environments can sustain life?

[Avan]

 
*Is happy that the established definition of life is being challeneged*

[Yip]

I think this kind of thing is exactly why science is awesome. The willingness to reevaluate things, to ensure that our understanding matches reality as much as possible. If evidence is discovered that shows that we were wrong about something, this is not seen as a bad thing (as it would be with dogmatic positions). On the contrary, science sees this as a good thing; it's an opportunity to move ever closer to what's actually true.

It totally doesn't surprise me that life is possible in ways that we don't know. Our entire biology is essentially based on one strand of life: that which developed on Earth. Life which develops in a different environment could be wildly different. This doesn't mean that our current biology is somehow wrong, just that it's likely incomplete.

[Mooshi]

Take that nay-sayers of science!

[Foxpup]

Wait, who previously thought this to be impossible? It's not exactly surprising that arsenic could substitute for phosphorous in DNA, they're both Group V elements after all.

[Fenny the Fox]

I think the real surprise might come from the fact that, in life observed unto this point, arsenic compounds have been seen to be a powerful poison to the body. That they now could be considered a building block of life is interesting, in that respect. And this has likely thrown many for a bit of a loop. I find it amazing.

[Foxpup]

I think the real surprise might come from the fact that, in life observed unto this point, arsenic compounds have been seen to be a powerful poison to the body.

So are phosphorus compounds, for that matter.

That they now could be considered a building block of life is interesting, in that respect. And this has likely thrown many for a bit of a loop. I find it amazing.

Not really, life always finds a way to adapt to its environment using whatever elements it happens to find. Life is amazing.

[Old Rabbit]

They have been finding that life is much more tolerant of extremes than previously
thought..

Nothing more enjoyable to see than the wonders of nature..

[Fenny the Fox]

So are phosphorus compounds, for that matter.

This is very true.

Not really, life always finds a way to adapt to its environment using whatever elements it happens to find.

Of course it does. I just find the change interesting. Maybe "fascinating" might be a better word? Either way.

Life is amazing.

That was kind of my point.

[Foxxhoria]

So are phosphorus compounds, for that matter.

Maybe there's some deep philosophical truth in there? =o
"We're all made with a bit of poison..."

[Avan]

So are phosphorus compounds, for that matter.

Maybe there's some deep philosophical truth in there? =o
"We're all made with a bit of poison..."

..................... Even oxygen is poisonous if you have too much of it.... Toxidicy is all relative

[Serra Belvoule]

Or in different amount of molecules (O vs O2, etc)