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Encyclopedia > Alternative biology

Alternative biology refers to the study of theoretical or non-traditional life forms such as acellular life, non-carbon-based life, extraterrestrial life, cyborg life or artificial life. Alternative biochemistry collectively refers to an assortment of astrobiology theories and hypotheses in which life can be based on biochemical systems other than systems based upon organic chemistry, which is used by currently known forms of life. ... The existence of extraterrestrial life remains hypothetical though human beings continue to search Extraterrestrial life is life that may exist and originate outside the planet Earth. ... Seven of Nine, a Borg in Star Trek: Voyager The term cyborg, a portmanteau of cybernetic organism, is used to designate an organism which is a mixture of organic and mechanical (synthetic) parts. ... Artificial life, also known as alife or a-life, is the study of life through the use of human-made analogs of living systems. ...


It also considers the earliest theoretical forms of life on Earth, such as RNA life or Iron-sulfur life which may have been the earliest organisms. The RNA world hypothesis proposes that RNA was actually the first life-form on earth, later developing a cell membrane around it and becoming the first prokaryotic cell. ... Günter Wächtershäuser, a chemist turned patent lawyer, is mainly known for his groundbreaking and influential work on the origin of life, and in particular his iron-sulfur world theory, a theory that life on Earth had hydrothermal origins. ...


Known biological entities which may not always be considered life may also be considered in alternative biology such as viruses and plasmids. Orders A virus is a submicroscopic particle that can infect the cells of a biological organism. ... Figure 1: Schematic drawing of a bacterium with plasmids enclosed. ...


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