Читать книгу Astrobiology - Charles S. Cockell - Страница 90

We have looked at the key requirements for building the macromolecules in life on Earth and the solvent, water, in which these macromolecules operate, but what about other possible chemistries? We have no empirical evidence to suggest that alternative chemistries can be used by life or that other life forms on some distant planet are using other chemistries, but to put the previous discussions into context, it is worthwhile to briefly consider what alternatives have been discussed.

As the book progresses, you can consider for yourself whether our view that carbon as the ideal backbone element for life and water as the ideal solvent is a sensibly considered scientific conclusion or merely an Earth-centered prejudice.