For example, there is really no chemical reason that we are Carbon-based instead of Silicon-based. We'd be much cooler in the latter scenario, too 
Arsenic is in the same group as Phosphorus, so while this discovery is interesting, it doesn't really change TOO much about the fundamentals of bio/chem.

Arsenic is in the same group as Phosphorus, so while this discovery is interesting, it doesn't really change TOO much about the fundamentals of bio/chem.
More Important Than Soccer: Completely new type of DNA discovered
- 02/12/2010 04:48:51 PM
1731 Views
Wow. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 05:32:08 PM
517 Views
that is TOTALLY inappropriate
- 02/12/2010 04:58:47 PM
945 Views
Crazy awesome.
- 02/12/2010 05:07:49 PM
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So the movie Evolution was real!
- 02/12/2010 05:24:16 PM
932 Views
Wow. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 05:32:08 PM
517 Views
Dang. I thought it was naturally occurring. Missed the part where it was grown in a lab.
- 03/12/2010 02:16:16 AM
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I won't pretend I know enough about biology to understand the impact of this
- 02/12/2010 06:26:24 PM
989 Views
It's like finding a type of rock that eats laughter
- 02/12/2010 06:51:15 PM
838 Views
... without coming down and dealing with the nasty stomach cramps.
- 02/12/2010 09:49:06 PM
1069 Views
- 02/12/2010 09:49:06 PM
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I think I had an ex once that was made of arsenic. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 07:10:57 PM
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So, is it an alien?
- 02/12/2010 07:19:49 PM
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They haven't mentioned anything saying it's not from Earth, I think
- 02/12/2010 08:03:44 PM
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The bacteria in question is part of a known lineage
- 02/12/2010 08:07:34 PM
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see my note below
- 02/12/2010 08:13:35 PM
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Maybe
- 02/12/2010 08:23:16 PM
931 Views
So, apparently, this bacteria doesn't use arsneic for its DNA in its natural state?
- 02/12/2010 08:06:02 PM
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While awesome, it's a bit of a problem.
- 02/12/2010 09:04:22 PM
896 Views
True, but I'm not "looking for" anything in particular, so I just like it
*NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:09:21 PM
509 Views
*NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:09:21 PM
509 Views
It's interesting, but not completely shocking
- 02/12/2010 08:08:46 PM
1067 Views
Less cool a revelation than I was hoping, but certainly not a complete disappointment. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 10:35:33 PM
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I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It always seemed common sense to me that there are
- 02/12/2010 10:40:22 PM
1032 Views
I think it just makes them happy that they can widen the parameters for life-sustaining planets. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:00:31 PM
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yah. it's one thing to theorize, another thing to find something to hold true.
- 02/12/2010 11:10:23 PM
905 Views
It's much more than an educated guess.
- 02/12/2010 11:59:18 PM
1100 Views
You can't "know" from this distance.
- 03/12/2010 03:13:05 AM
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Why not?
- 03/12/2010 04:42:15 AM
1075 Views
obviously you have not learned to look at the back label on the car
*NM*
- 04/12/2010 07:04:42 PM
445 Views
*NM*
- 04/12/2010 07:04:42 PM
445 Views
Yes, we can.
- 04/12/2010 06:04:48 PM
1242 Views
The problem probably is with me.
- 04/12/2010 08:00:56 PM
885 Views
No, they aren't.
- 04/12/2010 10:01:25 PM
906 Views
Are you baiting me to bait you?
- 05/12/2010 06:41:49 AM
1080 Views
I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:26:39 AM
1076 Views
Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:08:04 PM
857 Views
Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:56:43 PM
1048 Views
Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 06/12/2010 03:15:37 AM
1017 Views
I made my students watch the NASA channel for over two hours today
- 02/12/2010 11:11:40 PM
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- 02/12/2010 11:11:40 PM
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