[api]

> The lack of evidence of other encoding systems strongly suggests that at the very least, once DNA happens it outcompetes everything else in Earth-like biospheres.

In 50 years:

The lack of evidence of other languages in use besides JavaScript suggests that at the very least, once JavaScript happens it outcompetes everything else...

I'm just saying it doesn't follow. DNA could be an "average" encoding mechanism or even a poor one. We don't know since we have no other good examples other than contrived lab creations that can't be tested in a real evolutionary scenario since we don't live for millions of years.

DNA could have outcompeted because some lineage of DNA-based organisms acquired an adaptation that led to them outcompeting everything else, even if other encoding mechanisms were superior.

[xen2xen1]

GP isn't saying DNA is the only way, or even the best. They are saying it's a higher probability than anything else we know of. There's value in decisive tests, even if it's improbable.

[formerkrogemp]

It does beg the question; doesn't it? Is there another form of encoding compared to DNA that we may not be aware of and that put our conception of life on its head.