Silicon is a close contender to Carbon as evidenced by the creation of a bacterial enzyme that efficiently incorporates silicon into simple hydrocarbons[1]. [1

Silicon is a close contender to Carbon as evidenced by the creation of a bacterial enzyme that efficiently incorporates silicon into simple hydrocarbons[1]. [1] http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/researchers-take-small-step-toward-silicon-based-life http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/researchers-take-smal...