Science/Environment Mars Colonisation

[Malifice]

Derprived of phosphorus the creature replaces phosphorus with arsenic in its DNA. It switches back and forth, depending on how much phosphorus is available.

But we could still share a common ancestor and it is still a carbon based life form.

So it is carbon based?

 

[Pie eyed]

So it is carbon based?

That is my understanding from the article.
The article I read however is from an online science journal, not the linked article which seems to highlight certain particulars more than the one I read.
It suggests, there is apparently an ability to "use" arsenic in the construction of the bacteria's DNA in the absence of phosphorus, the focus is on the bacteria's ability to survive the synthesis with arsenic, which no other known organism can.
It also attributes the discovery to a study which is funded by NASA, not NASA as is claimed in most of the popular media.
It certainly does not claim that the bacteria is an Arsenic based lifeform.
I'll try and find the article and post a link.

Found it...the NASA site.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/02dec_monolake/

 

[cancat]

It suggests, there is apparently an ability to "use" arsenic in the construction of the bacteria's DNA in the absence of phosphorus, the focus is on the bacteria's ability to survive the synthesis with arsenic, which no other known organism can.

I'm no expert, but it could be an extension of what John Cairns discovered - that life sustaining mutations appear as a response to traumatic environmental crisis. Changes to DNA can occur that are not merely the result of random mutations. At the time of this discovery it was a phenomenon contrary to previously accepted theories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_mutation

See also Quantum Evolution for the mechanisms that could allow this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_evolution_(alternative)

How does this fit into Biocentric theory? Should not the 'consciousness' of the bacteria change the environment rather the environment changing the nature of the species?

 

[Pie eyed]

I'm no expert, but it could be an extension of what John Cairns discovered - that life sustaining mutations appear as a response to traumatic environmental crisis. Changes to DNA can occur that are not merely the result of random mutations. At the time of this discovery it was a phenomenon contrary to previously accepted theories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_mutation

See also Quantum Evolution for the mechanisms that could allow this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_evolution_(alternative)

How does this fit into Biocentric theory? Should not the 'consciousness' of the bacteria change the environment rather the environment changing the nature of the species?

I heartily agree with the former but won't get too involved in the biocentric connotations because I've made a conscious decision to leave that alone in threads not specifically to do with the subject where possible. It tends to choke the discussion.

I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately, mainly physics, cosmology and biology. there have been some very interesting new discoveries in all three fields all of which have implications for the "mainstream" thinking in all.
The discovery of vast fields of planetary bodies looks pretty damned interesting.
The alleged new 4th neutrino (sterile neutrino) and it's proposed ability to explain dark matter and account for the imbalance of matter and anti-matter in the universe is pretty exciting.
I get the feeling we are generally on the brink of a bit of an explosion in new discoveries which could really answer some fundamental stumbling blocks science has been looking to overcome for a long time.
A potential new theory relevant to the QM, the Uncertainty Principle and quantum entanglement specifically could be huge and of interest to a few on here.
I read this stuff and don't always immediately save a link. I'll have a look and might start a new thread on the subject.

 

[Malifice]

IHow does this fit into Biocentric theory?

For a second there it nearly falsified it.

Implicit in Biocentrism is that the Universe came/comes from life, and we (all living things) share a similar 'universe' due to our shared and collective biological origins.

It also predicts that we will not find any other life 'out there' or, if we do, that life will be remarkably similar to our own (due to the predictions of a common ancestor).

Empirical observation of spontaneous evolution of inert matter into 'life' 'within' the 'universe' would be tricky for the theory indeed.

Should not the 'consciousness' of the bacteria change the environment rather the environment changing the nature of the species?

The environment doesnt change. Only the perceptions of it. Including in the past.

 

[Black Flag]

NASA is already working on anti-matter propulsion that could reach mars in around 45 days.

 

[fearless]

Although I'm not a big sci-fi reader, I did read a fascinating, well-informed series by Kim Stanley Robinson on the colonisation of Mars. The books are Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars. Recommended reading for anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject.

 

[Niximus]

Although I'm not a big sci-fi reader, I did read a fascinating, well-informed series by Kim Stanley Robinson on the colonisation of Mars. The books are Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars. Recommended reading for anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject.

Ooh, I had heard about them before and thought they might be a good read but never got around to buying them.

Have been reading some books on my Desire HD so I might have to add them to the list now that you've reminded me. (although I have just started reading the Belgariad/Mallorean series so I have a few books to read first).

 

[Sloth]

Although I'm not a big sci-fi reader, I did read a fascinating, well-informed series by Kim Stanley Robinson on the colonisation of Mars. The books are Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars. Recommended reading for anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject.

I read the first two, but never got around to reading Blue Mars. They are quite a slog, but with some interesting ideas in there