[aydyn]

I think it is reasonable to assume that the immune system would have to work harder against mirror pathogens. Straight toxicity might be another important consideration.

On the other hands mirror amino acids already exist in nature, so I find the argument that a mirror bacteria would rampage the ecosystem unchecked sensationalist. Click-bait even. More likely than not, the mirror bacteria itself would be heavily outcompeted in the wild.

[notfed]

Agreed that modelling it as a "pathogen" is missing the mark.

But predatorless photosynthetic self-replicating gray goo that grows exponentially across the planet, resulting in a drastic change in CO2 and oxygen levels across the globe? Wouldn't be the first time. [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Oxidation_Event

[mlyle]

Presumably that's gotten a lot harder/less likely given that we've had billions of years since and life fills a lot more niches. But that's not really something to bet civilization on without a bit more evidence.

[aydyn]

The difference is there is competition now.