Carbon chauvinism

Carbon chauvinism is a term used in xenobiology to describe the viewpoint of those who assert that because carbon is the basis of all life on Earth, it must also be the basis of all possible forms of life.

Some commonly proposed alternatives:

• The most common other proposed basis is silicon, since silicon has many similar chemical properties to carbon.
• Another basis sometimes considered is mechanical ("Clanking replicators").
• Chlorine is sometimes proposed as a biological alternative to oxygen.

See also:

• Chauvinism

External references:

• http://www.faqs.org/faqs/astronomy/faq/part6/section-16.html

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