[Article here - "Second Genesis on Earth?"]
Scientists locate arsenic-tolerating bacteria, demonstrate that the bacteria are using the arsenic in place of phosphorus. So what? This means that the bacteria have cracked the traditionally held carbo-oxy-hydro-nitro-sulph-phos cell structure that was assumed to be the essential building blocks of life. We may be a long way from Star Trek's silicon-based life (in lieu of carbon), but it appears substitution can happen even here on earth.
