Re: More Mars notes: unrealistic assumptions?

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>Hi all.
>
>Henry Gee raised an interesting point, that seems to be overlooked more
>often than not.  I've always wondered this myself: if we ever did find/meet
>alien life, how on Earth (pardon the pun) would we recognize it?
>
>I remember many years ago being told in a class (first year chemistry, I
>believe it was) that if live ever developed on another planet, it could
>well be silicone based (due to the same number of valence electrons as
>carbon, I believe it was - but like I said, this was a *long* time ago, so
>forgive me if my chemistry is inaccurate here!).  My first thought was
>'sure, that makes sense', but then it struck me: isn't that assuming that
>live would have to develop in an almost parallel way to that on Earth?  A
>terribly big assumption, if you ask me.
>
>I've been an armchair astronomer for a long time, and I've long ago decided
>that I do believe there's someone/thing else 'out there'.  However,
>assuming we'd recognize it on first glimpse is a notion that takes an awful
>lot for granted.
>
>
>Take care, all...
>
>Rod Taylor
>
>
>*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
>Rod S. Taylor
>Institute for Systematics & Population Biology (I.S.P.)
>University of Amsterdam
>P.O. Box 94766
>1090 GT Amsterdam The Netherlands
>Tel: +31.20.5256287; Fax: +31.20.5255402
>
>E-mail: taylor@bio.uva.nl
>
>'Back inside this chamber of so many doors
>I've nowhere, nowhere to hide,
>I'd give you all of my dreams if you'd help me
>find the door that doesn't lead me back again,
>take me away...'
>
>        Genesis, 'The Chamber of 32 Doors'
>*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *