[ExI] Directed Evolution Teaches Nature the Unnatural, Brings Silicon to Life

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-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf
Of Giulio Prisco
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2016 5:46 AM
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Subject: [ExI] Directed Evolution Teaches Nature the Unnatural, Brings
Silicon to Life

Directed Evolution Teaches Nature the Unnatural, Brings Silicon to Life

Caltech researchers have achieved a spectacular demonstration that living
organisms can be persuaded to make silicon-carbon bonds. The study is the
first to show that nature can adapt to incorporate silicon into carbon-based
molecules, the building blocks of life. This breakthrough could have en
important impact on how medicines and other chemicals are made in the
future, and open new horizons to synthetic biology....

https://hacked.com/directed-evolution-teaches-nature-unnatural-brings-silico
n-life/

https://hacked.com/directed-evolution-teaches-nature-unnatural-brings-silico
n-life/


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This could be a possible addition to the list for explaining the Great
Filter.  

Scenario: life always evolves as carbon based, and if left to its own
devices stays that way.  Some of the carbon-based life eventually evolves
intelligence, discovers the similarity between carbon and silicon,
eventually figures out how to make carbon-silicon bonds in lifeforms, C-Si
lifeform escapes from the lab, devours soil, planet is soon overrun by C-Si
lifeforms which are robust but not intelligent.  Result: living but dumb
planet, no signals.

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