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by cryptoz 5676 days ago
> This sounds really, really cool but it's still an organism that uses DNA

Are we 100% certain of that? I'm not a biologist, however it seems to me that DNA is in part defined by the usage of Phosphorus. Maybe we need to redefine DNA? Or does this organism not use DNA at all?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA#Properties

Please correct me if I'm not understanding correctly!
1 comments
badkungfu 5676 days ago
Yeah, I don't know either. Sounds like DNA is the strand/mechanism and using phosphates is all we know of so far. IANAS

But if it's not-technically-DNA-anymore because it can use an arsenate instead of a phosphate, it's still part of our tree of life. That's the part that seems to have dampened enthusiasm somewhat.

link