Alien Biochemistry

Cathy Harper wrote:
 > On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:56:51 GMT, T <tberk.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
<snip>
  >>(In fact I've been thinking of a tri-based life form but I haven't
  >>published yet, so mums the word.
  >>
  >>TBerk
 >
 > Mums are tri-based?
 >
 > --
 > Cathy Harper
 >


Well, in my basement lab they are. <shhhh>


TBerk
It's about gaining, and using Energy, and Procreating.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Alien Biochemistry 

In article <7yAvd.42616$6q2.31559@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>, T wrote:
 > (In fact I've been thinking of a tri-based life form but I haven't
 > published yet, so mums the word.)
 >
A DNA-analog with three bases, or three base-pairs, or
triple-stranded DNA-analogue (a composition that Crick and Watson
considered on the way to the double helix, but ruled out on chemical
grounds IIRC)?

--
Aidan Karley,
Aberdeen, Scotland,
Location: 57°10'11" N, 02°08'43" W (sub-tropical Aberdeen), 0.021233<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Alien Biochemistry 

Aidan Karley wrote:
 > In article <7yAvd.42616$6q2.31559@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>, T wrote:
 >
  >>(In fact I've been thinking of a tri-based life form but I haven't
  >>published yet, so mums the word.)
  >>
 >
 > A DNA-analog with three bases, or three base-pairs, or
 > triple-stranded DNA-analogue (a composition that Crick and Watson
 > considered on the way to the double helix, but ruled out on chemical
 > grounds IIRC)?
 >


No, actually more on the macro scale; less molecular/cellular and more
physical and mechanical level.

Now you have me thinking of the stuff put forward in 'the 5th Element'
with the gal having super dense DNA strands.

Thinking about having three base pairs seems an interesting idea though;
physically a triangle is more stable compared to a 'ladder' such as well
have. (Fiction allows for some bending of the rules to accommodate the
story), perhaps something like that would be beneficial under conditions
that are harsher than the eden we have on Earth.

I'm going to kick this around with my local bio-sci expert this afternoon.


TBerk<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Alien Biochemistry 

In article <hMGyd.1818$5R.1695@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com>, T wrote:
 > I'm going to kick this around with my local bio-sci expert this afternoon.
 >
 > TBerk
 >
Use soft boots, and tell them to be light on the goal-scoring.
--
Aidan Karley,
Aberdeen, Scotland,
Location: 57°10'11" N, 02°08'43" W (sub-tropical Aberdeen), 0.021233<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Alien Biochemistry 

In article <hMGyd.1818$5R.1695@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com>, T wrote:
 > Thinking about having three base pairs seems an interesting idea though;
 > physically a triangle is more stable compared to a 'ladder' such as well
 > have.
 >
Call your first base "A". Say it binds with base "B". What does base
"C" do? If Base "C" binds with base "A", what binds with base "B"?
Three base pairs is plausible , but 2 base pairs is more economic (at
the expense of a longer genome; which effect "weighs" more for evolution is
an open question).
 > (Fiction allows for some bending of the rules to accommodate the
 > story), perhaps something like that would be beneficial under conditions
 > that are harsher than the eden we have on Earth.
 >
A *very* open question.

 > I'm going to kick this around with my local bio-sci expert this afternoon.
 >
As long as (s)he uses clean cultures, and a robust distillation
methodology, "bottoms up!"

--
Aidan Karley,
Aberdeen, Scotland,
Location: 57°10'11" N, 02°08'43" W (sub-tropical Aberdeen), 0.021233<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Alien Biochemistry