3 ms·

The paper you cite about the bacterium that uses arsenic instead of phosphorus in its DNA was conclusively discredited. http://www.nature.com/news/arsenic-life-

• Retric 10y ago
  This does not mean that arsenate does not get into the bacteria, he points out. “It just shows that this bacterium has evolved to extract phosphate under almost all circumstances.” Yes, it really wants phosphorus. But, a strong preference does not create phosphorus when there is none to be found. Not that single cells really want or try etc, but you get the idea.