[Pres Raygun]

What the article doesn't state though is that planetary systems without Jupiter like outer planets cannot support advanced life either, because the large Jupiter like gas giants are required to keep catastrophic meteors from impacting any life bearing planets in the habital zone.

[anobjectivist]

To our limited knowledge of planetary formation, yes that would make sense, however life-bearing planets could have a possibility of surviving without jovian planets. The thing is they would have to age more (endure a longer period of bombardment) before life really takes off.

Also, I doubt that we can detect jovian planets at the same distance from our sun as jupiter except in the nearest stars.

[Magnum44]

What the article doesn't state though is that planetary systems without Jupiter like outer planets cannot support advanced life either, because the large Jupiter like gas giants are required to keep catastrophic meteors from impacting any life bearing planets in the habital zone.

Huh? What space science book did you get this from? I disagree with your statement, though as shoemaker-levy showed us, an outer planet can capture an occasional comet/asteroid.