starship-design: Re: Aliens, why haven't they contact us?

[TLG.van.der.Linden@tip.nl (Timothy van der Linden)]

Jim wrote:

>Just a thought to consider folks.  All living organisms on this planet,
>including viruses have DNA and RNA constructed from the same four
>proteins, adenine, cytosine, guanine and tyrosine.  (And I do mean ALL
>life forms on this planet, from viruses to trees to us).  The chances
>that an alien microbe, or anything else, would use these same proteins
>seem rather small,

What other building blocks do you suggest? (trick question :)

>thus rendering them and us relatively harmless to each
>other since we cant read each other's cellular codes.

Well if they start using our atoms, then that can be a serious threat.

Timothy