Quote:
Originally Posted by kach22i
The article does not say if they expect it to be carbon or silicon based life.
Can we even have silicon based life on earth or in the universe?
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I remember covering this in grad school in a course 'Polymer Synthesis'. There are several difficulties with having a self assembling macro-molecule with silicon as a backbone. Namely the reaction temps required often make the synthesis of polymenr liquid chrystals very difficult - these are required (smectic and nemictic membranes). Carbon lends itself much more appealing. Also, the electrolytes needed play well with carbon based polymers. This is also needed for proper transfer of info. I'm not saying it isn't possible just more difficult with what we know concerning self-assembling and replicating molecules.
I will try to look up the reactions in my notebooks - I kept everything!