• Question: Why are we, as humans, carbon based life forms?, plus is there an alternate atom we could have been based on?

    Asked by jucy to Becky on 22 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Rebecca Cook

      Rebecca Cook answered on 22 Jun 2013:

      Carbon is the best atom for life to based on, its fairly small and light which makes it easy for enzymes (proteins that help reactions within an organism happen) to modify. Carbon also have four valence (outshell) electrons so can forms compounds with many other atoms.

      Some scientists argue silicon based life forms might be possible, silicon is similar to carbon (also has 4 valence electrons).

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