The famous geochemist academician Fersman put forward the hypothesis that a silicon form of life (non-carbon) is possible on our planet. Similar assumptions were made by different scientists at different times. In November of this year, a message was circulated that biotechnologists at the California Institute had bred a bacterium capable of synthesizing compounds with SiO2. Thus, they have advanced significantly in research related to the creation of creatures whose metabolism is based on inorganic molecules.
Silicon Life Form: Vitolytic Theory
In the process of research, scientists searched in the information database of protein sequences for enzymes that have the ability to bind C and SiO2. Hemoproteins were chosen for this reaction. They are proteins that contain compounds of iron and porphyrins. The researchers chose cytochrome. This protein is synthesized by bacteria present in the hot underwater springs of Iceland. Scientists have isolated and propagated the gene that codes for the enzyme. After that, it was subjected to random mutations. Created DNA sequences by researchersintroduced into Escherichia coli. In the process of observations, it was found that some mutations in the active site led to the fact that the taken bacteria began to produce a protein capable of synthesizing organosilicon compounds. Its efficiency, determined by the rate of reaction and the amount of product, exceeds the effectiveness of artificial catalysts. Scientists intend to continue research. Their goal is to understand why, despite the wide distribution of silicon compounds on Earth, it was the carbon form that was created and developed in the course of evolution. There are no organisms in nature that could use SiO2 in metabolism. It is possible that in the future, researchers will be able to create an organism from which the silicon form of life on Earth will begin.
Literary representations
Silicon life form on Earth is invisible to the human eye. Metabolism in it is so stretched in time that people do not take into account the very possibility of its existence. In Pratchett's (English writer) books about the Discworld, the original race of organosilicon creatures, the trolls, is described. Their thinking depends on the temperature of the environment. The stupidity that is characteristic of trolls is due to the poor functioning of the organosilicon brain in heat. With significant cooling, these creatures exhibit super-high intellectual abilities. Representatives of the silicon-calcium world can transform into the skeleton of animals and plants, as well ascorals.
Natural phenomena
French geologists Reshard and Escollier have been carefully examining rock samples from different parts of the world for quite a long time. They found out that certain signs of life processes are inherent in stones. They just go very slowly. Scientists have found that the structure of stones can change. They may be old or young. In addition, researchers have established their ability to "breathe". But one "breath" stretches for 1-14 days, and a "beat of the heart" - almost a day. Scientists photographed the stones at different time periods and established their ability to move. Meanwhile, there are "moving blocks" in many parts of the world.
Silicon life form: agates, living stones
There is a hypothesis that the crystalline mineral lattice is able to accumulate information and operate with it. That is, the theory of "thinking stones" is put forward. According to a number of researchers, all biological organisms, including humans, are only "incubators". Their meaning lies in the birth of "stones". It has been established that a diamond can be made from the ashes after the cremation of a person. This service is quite popular in some countries. For example, a blue diamond with a diameter of 5 mm can be grown from 500 g of dust under pressure and high temperature in 2 months. On average, a person synthesizes about 100 kg of quartz and silicon during his life. It is believed that when they enter the body,begin to grow, often causing discomfort. After death, these stones probably go through another cycle of development already in natural (natural) conditions. They turn into isolated nuggets that resemble agates. The accumulation and development of grains of sand in the body has long been known. This process is called pseudomorphosis. So, the bones of dinosaurs have survived to this day precisely because of this phenomenon. At the same time, the chemical composition of the remains has nothing to do with bone tissue. In fact, their existence is determined by the silicon form of life. This has been proven by a number of studies. In one case, casts of bone remains are chalcedonic, in the other case, they are apatite. In Australia, unusual belemnites were discovered - cephalopods that widely inhabited the planet in the Mesozoic era. Their bone remains have been replaced by opal.
Research by A. Bokovikov
The silicon life form is explained in a rather original way using the example of the mineral "agate". Domestic researcher Bokovikov found several features that allow us to formulate a hypothesis. Agate is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. It is presented in the form of a fine-fibred aggregate of chalcedony, characterized by a banded color distribution and a layered structure. In the course of many years of observations, a silicon life form was described. Agate, as a plant organism, is not immortal, despite the fact that it has existed for millions of years.
Features
Anatomical features are clearly visible in samples of different ages. In particular, during researchthe scientist and his team discovered a striped and crystalline body, a bottom-mirror (the value of this element has not been established exactly, it is assumed that this is in some way similar to a visual analyzer). Agates have skin that can shed and regenerate. Like many other organisms, they get sick and heal their wounds (cracks and chips). The silicon life form involves nutrition, the capture of certain spaces, the preservation of complex forms in dynamics.
Reproduction
In the course of research, scientists have revealed an interesting fact. It was found that agates are bisexual. The crystalline body is female, and the striped body is male. They also have genes. They are represented by the crystals of the female body. Reproduction can be carried out in several ways. For example, the silicon life form develops from "seeds". In addition, using specific examples, Bokovikov showed that budding, cloning, and division with the formation of separating centers are also possible. The researcher observed the reproduction of cryotes in bas alt. The scientist identified a number of processes. For example, the birth of cryotes, development, the appearance of a baby, transformation into an organism, the emergence of spherical structures around the embryos, death.
Masonic performances
In the course of numerous studies, a new doctrine has been formed - anthroposophy. R. Steiner became its founder. He argued that the silicon form of life is dominant on the planet. The birth, development and death of a person is necessary only for one purpose. It consists ofservice to the mineral world. Man and other organisms ensure the existence of compounds with atomic crystal lattices. Steiner saw the task of people in the transformation of the mineral world into a work of art. He spoke of the fact that electricity testifies to the occult depths of matter. When people rebuild the mineral world, in accordance with their inner perception, the planet will stop developing in the physical sense. It will pass into another state, in which, in a condensed form, there will be a reflection of everything that the mineral Earth once was. Steiner substantiates the words of Goethe when he spoke about the Spirit of the planet. Along with this, the scientist points out that there is also a silicon form of life on the moon. He says that there was a development plan on this celestial body. In each specific case, with respect to each planet, there is its own scheme. The atoms left after the cessation of physical development became the basis for the creation of the Earth. A plan is being developed for the planet. Reaching the end of development, its atoms pass to another celestial body. As a result, a silicon life form may arise on Venus, Mars, Jupiter.
Circulation in nature
Silicon life form acts as the initial and final goal of the existence of organisms on the planet. A number of prominent scientists propose to see the meaning of the emergence of human civilization solely in the participation of the cycle in the natural environment. While people were gatherers and hunters, they acted as members of natural biocenoses. However, civilization has a number of specific features. According to V. V. Malakhov, a person extracts from the depths what has come out of the cycle. For example, it is oil, coal, gas. At the same time, a person returns carbon to the earth in the most accessible form for organisms. Extracting metals from the depths, people saturate industrial wastewater with them, returning spent compounds to the World Ocean in a form acceptable to its inhabitants. This, in fact, is the biospheric task of humanity.
Death of mankind
According to Malakhov, when this function is fully implemented, civilization will come to a quiet and natural end, due to the depletion of reserves. It will not be an atomic war, but the slow extinction of humanity. At the same time, the biosphere will reach a qualitatively new level of development. She is about to flourish. Of course, Malakhov believes, saturation of atmospheric air with carbon dioxide, a likely greenhouse effect, enrichment with heavy metals in the ocean will lead to the death of a huge number of organisms. This will be one of the biospheric crises. However, along with this, life will flourish at a new stage. New systems with unusual substances and metals will appear. However, all this will exist without a person.
Conclusions
Based on Malakhov's hypothesis, the dying of civilization will not mean the death of man. For a certain period, people will still live on Earth. They will unite in primitive communities of pastoralists, hunters, gatherers. However, this will already be the existence of a biological species as an element of a natural biocenosis. In other words, the essence of being is not anthropocentrism. Itconsists in serving the "Other", which, according to I. Efremov, can also be determined by studying the stone as one of its manifestations.
Dark Matter
According to some scientists, it can also act as a form of life. The term "dark matter" refers to hypothetical matter that fills approximately 27% of the universe. This concept was coined by physicists to explain some contradictions. According to experts, this matter can be intelligent and interact with humans. However, this tissue is located at the quantum level. This explains the fact that long-term studies of space have not shown scientists any satisfactory evidence of the existence of other life on planets.
Conclusion
In popular medical publications, you can find research results indicating that the human body needs about 40-50 mg of silicon every day. Its key function is to maintain normal metabolism. It has been established that many diseases of the body could not be, if it had enough silicon. In this regard, it is believed that the he alth of human ancestors was undermined by products that prevent its absorption. Many of them are included in the diet today. This, in particular, meat, white flour, sugar, canned food. Mixed food lingers in the digestive system for up to 8 hours. This means that during this time the body digests products, usingmost of the enzymes. In such a situation, as I. P. Pavlov believed, the body cannot provide a sufficient supply of energy to other organs - the heart, kidneys, muscles, brain. The researchers draw one important conclusion from this. They say that probably Steiner, who says that the purpose of human existence is to serve minerals, is right.
