3 ms·
i mean there is a reason to believe that if there is other life in universe its going to also be carbon based. Carbon can form more molecules than all the othe
by unionpivo 7y ago
i mean there is a reason to believe that if there is other life in universe its going to also be carbon based.
Carbon can form more molecules than all the other elements combined, so it makes sense that complex chemical "elements" are heavily based on it.
In fact if you compare most common elements in universe[1] and most common elements in human body[2] they are mostly the same (different order)
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elem...
2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body
- jcranmer 7y agoCarl Sagan, who coined the term, has admitted that he is a carbon chauvinist. And I suspect most biochemists are as well; there are decent chemical reasons to disfavor any other system.
- chopin 7y agoOn the other hand carbon chemistry is the center of expertise for biochemists. They hardly know anything else. As well, carbon chemistry is rich under earth conditions (temperature and pressure wise). We simply don't know for others.