Abstract
For a long lime now there has been an almost universal assumption that life in the universe has to be based on carbon chemistry. The only notable modern exception appears to be that of Cairns-Smith (1982, 1985) who has eloquently espoused the case for starting life with silicate clays, there being a subsequent genetic takeover in favour of carbon compounds. However in the past there have been speculations, albeit superficial by modern standards, of extra-terrestrial life based on other chemical elements. Let me attempt to review the situation through more modern eyes.
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References
Brown, R. D. and Rice, E. H. N., Mon. Not. R. astron. Soc., 1986 223, 405.
Cairns-Smith, A. G., Genetic Takeover and the Mineral Origins of Life, C. U. P., 1982.
Cairns-Smith, A. G., Sci. Amer., 1985 (June), 252, 74.
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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Brown, R.D. (1988). Exotic Chemical Life. In: Marx, G. (eds) Bioastronomy — The Next Steps. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 144. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2959-3_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2959-3_24
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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