We are carbon based life forms, but researchers have hypothesized that there are probably sulfur based lifeforms out in the universe.
If I remember correctly, there's over a hundred various amino acids. For humans, we have only 20.
If I remember correctly, there's over a hundred various amino acids. For humans, we have only 20.
This is true of all group 14 elements.
Carbon is the lightest and thus most-common group 14 element. Carbon and silicon are the only two group 14 elements lighter than iron, which means they're the only ones produced by stellar burning. (Everything heavier than iron is produced exotically, e.g. by supernovae and neutron star collisions.)
Most (chemical) life is thus probably carbon based, with a minority running on silicon. If germanium-based life exists, it's near a supermassive black hole.
Sci-fi novel based on the Sepoy Mutiny. Life on Uller is based on silicon.