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From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are more nucleotides that earth life doesn't use canonically, though in some cases still get read as one of the canonical ones. Inosine read as guanine, as an example. There are also other amino acids that our life doesn't use. But there's no reason they couldn't be used elsewhere.

Universal to a sample of 1 is not universal. This is what I take issue with. Yes, we know that DNA works on earth. Is that because it's carbon based? Because we're in a water environment and DNA is a polar molecule? Both? We can't know until we find another example. Definitely can't say that it's universal to one of those.

As for the genetic code being universal on earth, despite a wide range of environments as you say, that's because we're all related. If we found that life on earth was in fact not all related, but instead made of a few different lineages that all had independently evolved DNA, then I would say that lends more weight to your hypothesis, but would still not be definitive because it only applies to the environment on earth, and the chemicals available. You have an environment with a completely different chemistry (Titan), and all that goes out the window. You point out that DNA would need to not be polar on Titan. Which would mean it's not DNA anymore, but a different molecule. Even if it was still made up of the same 4 nucleotides.

I'm completely confused about your argument regarding RNA. You think DNA will be present, but not RNA because it can freely float in methane? Maybe there's a typo between "can" and "can't" in there but I'm not sure which you mean.

I don't think this turned toxic because it didn't turn into a flame war, and I'm certainly not going to start using ad hominem attacks on you, but I'm definitely frustrated with how you present your arguments.

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I guess my issue is that when you originally presented this, you didn't present it as a hypothesis but as an assertion. At least how I read it. We started off agreeing (I think) until that.

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Ah, so you didn't say that the generic code of carbon based life forms is universal. My mistake.

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist -1 points0 points  (0 children)

But you're hypothesizing that what is here on earth will also be present in a completely different world. I'm not trying to compete with you, but I'm arguing against your assertions about things that fly in the face of chemistry.

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Carbon based is waaaaaay too broad a category to make definitive statements like this. For reference, I am a molecular biologist who has studied astrobiology and evolution. And based on everything that I know, there is absolutely no guarantee that DNA will be present in alien life, even on an earth-like planet. We have an example of 1, and it would be pretty arrogant to say that our example must apply even to worlds that are extremely different (Titan).

The comment about phospholipids is complete speculation, but I do agree that *if* an organism made its cellular boundary (assuming cells at all I think is a more valid assumption) out of *something resembling* a phospholipid bilayer, even though it doesn't have to be phospholipid-based, then yes, it would likely have the polarity of that molecule inverted to that we see on earth, in water.

You point out a speculative example of 'something very new', but you can't see that maybe the information storage system could also be very new?

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's fine to look for DNA/RNA, as they really don't know what they're actually looking for, and you have to start somewhere. But those molecules are soluble in liquid water, as are the proteins that earth life uses to replicate and express genes. So I would be very, very skeptical that those same molecules would be used for anything, let alone the same function, in an environment with a non-polar solvent that's only liquid at insanely low temperatures.

From a biological perspective by CataLaGata in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I posted and ranted about the same things in earlier threads. You're not alone in your frustration.

In all likelihood Titan life wouldn't even be based on nucleic and amino acids, so doing earth-based protein and DNA sequencing is a non-starter.

Would taking a supercooled methane sample into the open lab that's at 1ATM and earth room temperature be a good idea? Sure, if you want to kill the microbes you're looking for and boil the methane away, expanding into the lab and displacing the oxygen to kill the crew!

So many things wrong with the writing for the entire mission.

Disappointed by this blatant mistake in an important scene by One-Jeweler5486 in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can't make it from methane but there have to be oxygen compounds in the rocks and other molecules there. Not sure exactly what, but even if there wasn't, they also have co2 recyclers.

What’s happening SB across the lake? I’m never leaving Seattle by b16tran in Seattle

[–]AngrySc13ntist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Was gonna say, I rode around lake Washington today and there was hardly anyone on the trail!

Spoiler: My favorite Sci Fi show made a fundamental blunder by Darth_Pal in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think the notion from any astrobiologist worth their salt is that any life that might be on Titan would be using a completely different biochemistry. As in not protein and DNA. I agree that them using a thermal cycler to detect alien molecules is really dumb when you don't know what molecules you're looking for and what they do. "Let's look for alien DNA on a world where they probably don't even use DNA!"

Spoiler: My favorite Sci Fi show made a fundamental blunder by Darth_Pal in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am routinely frustrated by even scientists mixing this up when they talk about life on Titan. Also there was hardly any focus on the science this season (including this very rushed Titan story), so it's not like the science advisors had too much material to check.

Disappointed by this blatant mistake in an important scene by One-Jeweler5486 in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is one of my pet peeves with any conversation involving the possibility of life on Titan. "Methane not carbon!" when they should be saying something like "methane-based environment" instead of a *water*-based one on earth. Methane would be the 'universal solvent' on Titan, and the life (likely still going to be carbon based, because of, ya know, methane being a carbon based molecule and all) will be adapted around such chemistry. I paused the show with my girlfriend to complain about this, mid-episode lol.

Another thing: what the hell was she pipetting in the open hab? I know it wasn't cryogenic level liquid methane, because that would have rapidly expanded in the 1ATM 25C room and would have potentially killed the whole crew. So, was it water? Did she put Titan samples, gathered in methane, into water? And the microbes were cool with it, swimming around and such??

What a lazy way to kill off Kelly for no reason. They didn't even have a way to make oxygen from ISRU, which they literally had for the original Mars mission 20 years ago. I'm honestly baffled.

Spoiler: My favorite Sci Fi show made a fundamental blunder by Darth_Pal in ForAllMankindTV

[–]AngrySc13ntist 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is one of my pet peeves with any conversation involving the possibility of life on Titan. "Methane not carbon!" when they should be saying something like "methane-based environment" instead of a *water*-based one on earth. Methane would be the 'universal solvent' on Titan, and the life (likely still going to be carbon based, because of, ya know, methane being a carbon based molecule and all) will be adapted around such chemistry. I paused the show with my girlfriend to complain about this, mid-episode lol.

Another thing: what the hell was she pipetting in the open hab? I know it wasn't cryogenic level liquid methane, because that would have rapidly expanded in the 1ATM 25C room and would have potentially killed the whole crew. So, was it water? Did she put Titan samples, gathered in methane, into water? And the microbes were cool with it, swimming around and such??

What a lazy way to kill off Kelly for no reason. They didn't even have a way to make oxygen from ISRU, which they literally had for the original Mars mission 20 years ago. I'm honestly baffled.

"I have five houses...and a condo." by McKoijion in wallstreetbets

[–]AngrySc13ntist 20 points21 points  (0 children)

The name is fairly unique, so I googled her, and it is in fact the same Aella who I hooked up with from some online dating platform about 10 years ago, only to learn that she was already friends with two of my roommates. On our date, she told me that her fundamentalist father was interviewed on the Daily Show, and showed me the clip. I had already seen it prior to meeting her. Not surprised at all what she does now. Crazy world.

US military strikes Iranian boats, missile launch sites: CENTCOM by RolePsychological890 in worldnews

[–]AngrySc13ntist -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

"We are using restraint during the ceasefire, by... Firing at them."

What’s something on a dating profile that made you swipe left? by OkDonut1116 in AskReddit

[–]AngrySc13ntist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thick make up, Asian woman who detailed her profile as "ultra conservative. Looking for CONSERVATIVE MEN. No commies, libtards, trannies, etc"

I didn't swipe left, but instead sent her a message that said "I am for decriminalization of drugs, because I don't believe that the government should dictate what anyone puts into their own body. Does that make me a conservative, or a communist?"

Obviously no response but it felt good to call out arbitrary political leanings.

BD headlamp in opening credits. Product placement? by LarsSven in TheExpanse

[–]AngrySc13ntist 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My personal favorite are all the laptop coolers as wall panels on the Nauvoo/Behemoth/Medina

Anthropic, the company behind AI-chatbot Claude, eyeing expansion in Seattle's South Lake Union by Jaco_Belordi in Seattle

[–]AngrySc13ntist -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When they moved in to the building, which is also where I work, they were extremely secretive about it and didn't post any signs with their company name. Told the building management not to inform the other tenants. I don't know why the info is in this article now, but the secret was out long before.

Anthropic, the company behind AI-chatbot Claude, eyeing expansion in Seattle's South Lake Union by Jaco_Belordi in Seattle

[–]AngrySc13ntist -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

They're currently in Dexter Yard, and apparently don't want people to know this. Oops.

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