Must Life be Carbon-Based?
Janusz Petkowski, a postdoc in the field of astrobiology, is working with Sara Seager and William Bains to develop an ASM (All Small Molecules) database of biosignature gases in the context of the search for life on another planets and research on possible alternative biochemistries.
So far, Earth is the only known inhabited planet. Yet it is known that the laws of physics and chemistry are universal and the same in every “corner” of the observable Universe. Can we say the same about biology? Can we identify any universal laws of biology? Janusz is studying these questions using cheminformatics computer simulations as an aid in designing future laboratory experiments.
Petkowski was recently interviewed by the BBC World Service for their series "Crowdscience." Hear him in the programs teaser http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Janusz Jurand Petkowski's main research interests lie in an interdisciplinary field of astrobiology. He is mainly interested in research leading to finding life on exoplanets, biosignature gases and theoretical biochemistry. So far Earth is the only known inhabited planet. Yet it is known that the laws of physics and chemistry are universal and the same in every “corner” of the observable Universe. Can we say the same about biology? Can we identify any universal laws of biology? Janusz is studying these questions using cheminformatics computer simulations as an aid in designing future laboratory experiments. MORE