Posted on 04/02/2018 6:23:28 PM PDT by LibWhacker
In 2016, NASA sequenced DNA in space for the first time, but alien life, we may soon discover, may be vastly different on other planets and moons, particularly as we expand our efforts to explore ocean worlds with our solar system and beyond. Most strategies for life detection rely upon finding features known to be associated with Earth's life, such as particular classes of molecules, the researchers wrote.
DNA and RNA are the building blocks of life on Earth, but the molecules of life might differ substantially on another planet. A new paper by scientists at Georgetown University, published online this month in the journal Astrobiology, suggests a method for identifying alien life using modern genome sequencing technology and chemometrics, a field that uses a wealth of statistical pattern-recognition protocols to analyze chemical data in this case the components of DNA and RNA.
"Ultimately," the Georgetown team writes, "the chemometric fingerprints of living systems, which may differ significantly from nonliving systems, could provide an empirical, agnostic means of detecting life."
Nucleic acids like DNA form structures that will inherently bind to a host of materials and shapes, including organic molecules, minerals, and even metals. In the system that the researchers propose, reports Kristen V. Brown for Gizmodo, a technique sometimes used in cancer detection called the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, researchers propose creating nucleic acids that can bind to organic molecules that are indicators of life.
The nucleic acids would theoretically act as a sort of sensor than can be amplified, and the binding patterns analyzed, to reveal a kind of biochemical signaturea fingerprint, as the researchers put it. The biochemistry of the alien life might be completely different from anything that we have seen on Earth, but if the molecular structures identified are complex, its a pretty good signal that its actually life.
Because nucleic acids are exponentially amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, even very small input signals could be translated into a robust readable output. The derived sequences could be identified by a small, portable sequencing device or by capture and optical imaging on a DNA microarray. Without presupposing any particular molecular framework, this agnostic approach to life detection could be used from Mars to the far reaches of the Solar System, all within the framework of an instrument drawing little heat and power.
The Georgetown researchers propose is just one idea for how to best ID alien life forms, but it is a much smaller and less complicated system than other methods for detecting molecular signs of life, such as the mass spectroscopy systems aboard the Mars rover Curiosity. The researchers point out that efforts to miniaturize genome sequencers, like Oxford Nanopores MinION, which fits in the palm of a hand, could one day make for extremely small, lightweight methods for astronauts to detect life forms in space.
Without presupposing any particular molecular framework, this agnostic approach to life detection could be used from Mars to the far reaches of the Solar System, all within the framework of an instrument drawing little heat and power, the researchers wrote.
IOW, do to the definition of “life” what they did with the genetic fact of their being only two sexes by blathering about “gender” rather than about biological reality.
And we’ll have flying cars by the year 2000!
Oh, wait.
I am more interested in the meaning of “soon”.
Not likely to mean what I would mean by soon.
I am unable to believe God created life only here.
1 trillionth of 1 trillionth of the Universe.
If that.
Hogwash.
Thanks LibWhacker.
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Who knows. Maybe some other scheme for life may involve more than two sexes. Or single sex organisms.
There isn’t life out there, yet. Someday, in the distant future, we populate the universe. People will live forever, reproduce (more slowly), and eventually need more room. God will direct them to planets to live on that He has prepared for them. It will be exciting, adventurous and fun. Will you be there, or will you be burning in hell (a general question to all)?
Isa 48:13 - Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
Zec 12:1 - The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Isa 51:16 - And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rzz8Yfr0nWI
He’s an unidentified flying object
You will see Him in the air
He’s an unidentified flying object
You will drop your hands and stare
You will be afraid to tell your neighbors
They might think that it’s not true
But when they open up the morning papers
They will know they’ve seen Him too
He will come back like He promised
With the price already paid
He will gather up His followers
And take them all away
He’s an unidentified flying object
He will sweep down from the sky
He’s an unidentified flying object
Some will sleep but will not die
He’s an unidentified flying object
Coming back to take you home
He’s an unidentified flying object
He will roll away your stone
And if there’s life on other planets
Then I’m sure that He must know
And He’s been there once already
And has died to save their souls
He’s an unidentified flying object
You will see Him in the air
He’s an unidentified flying object
You will drop your hands and stare
He’s an unidentified flying object
Coming back to take you Home
He’s an unidentifed flying object
He will roll away your stone
Songwriters: Larry Norman
When this happens, if it hasn’t already, the hardest part of discussing new life forms will be to achieve credibility.
We all know how easy it is to photoshop and manufacture two or even three dimensional illusions. How will we prove it to the majority’s satisfaction? I suspect there may be a set number of very different ways to present as a statement of proof.
Not this sh!t again.........right after Easter no less.
Obama changed all that. We now have 57 sexes
Still waitin for them flyin cars.
Cosmologically soon.
Sorry, Dude — We’re it.
Say what?
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