Has anyone out there read The Andromeda Strain? It certainly made me think about how we define life. I can't recall the criteria given in my Biology textbook, but I'm pretty sure that carbon-based was not a requirement. Let's see: 1)Able to reproduce; 2) Metabolism (uses energy); 3)Made up of cells [who says life on another planet will use cells?]... There are more characteristics I'm forgetting, but you get the idea.
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Has anyone out there read The Andromeda Strain? It certainly made me think about how we define life. I can't recall the criteria given in my Biology textbook, but I'm pretty sure that carbon-based was not a requirement. Let's see: 1)Able to reproduce; 2) Metabolism (uses energy); 3)Made up of cells [who says life on another planet will use cells?]... There are more characteristics I'm forgetting, but you get the idea.