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Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by codesushi42 on Wednesday July 10, 2019 @02:31AM (#20399596)
They would not have cell membranes with phospholipids for one thing.
Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by hdfbdtbcdg on Wednesday July 10, 2019 @02:53AM (#20399721)
Why not? Methane is a hydrocarbon. We are made of hydrocarbons.

I just can't understand what the chemical difference is. Are these differences because of oxygen? I.e. life forms of C+H vs lifeforms of C+H+O?

Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by codesushi42 on Wednesday July 10, 2019 @12:57PM (#20403834)
Yes. Phospholipids are not viable outside of water; they would not be strong enough to perform well in liquid methane.
Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by hdfbdtbcdg on Wednesday July 10, 2019 @04:43PM (#20406323)
So the suggestion is carbon based biology at very reducing conditions?

What temperatures are we considering?

Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by codesushi42 on Wednesday July 10, 2019 @08:37PM (#20408047)
Cold. Methane becomes liquid at -161.6C.

It is not my suggestion. It's suggested by scientists that Titan may host methane based life.

Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by reirob on Thursday July 11, 2019 @09:18AM (#20411269)
Do you have any references handy?
Re:What If Life Did Not Originate on Earth? by codesushi42 on Thursday July 11, 2019 @12:53PM (#20413143)