What would be the consequence of finding extraterrestrial life based on solvents or genetic mechanisms fundamentally different from Earth's?
Answer
It would force a complete rewrite of the definition of "life."
Encountering life utilizing entirely different structures, solvents, or genetic mechanisms would shatter existing biological paradigms, necessitating a total revision of what constitutes life.
Related Questions
Why is current terrestrial biology inherently limited for scientists seeking universal biological laws?What would be the consequence of finding extraterrestrial life based on solvents or genetic mechanisms fundamentally different from Earth's?What process would be dramatically evidenced if Martian life shared a common ancestor with terrestrial life?What does finding Martian life with core biochemistry entirely separate from Earth life suggest about abiogenesis?If only simple microbial life were discovered on another world, which key question about cosmic evolution would remain largely unanswered?What practical benefit often results from the technological development required to search for biosignatures on distant exoplanets?How does studying life thriving in extreme conditions on Earth (extremophiles) assist the search for life elsewhere?If unambiguous evidence of intelligent activity (technosignatures) were received, what specific implication arises regarding the 'Great Filter'?What crucial step must researchers take when interpreting atmospheric profiles for biosignatures like oxygen?What is the modern search method that analyzes starlight filtering through an exoplanet's atmosphere when it passes in front of its star?