On Tuesday, March 13, 2001 9:34 PM CurtAdams@aol.com wrote:
> >I figure earth-based microbes have as much chance of out-
> >competing Europa microbes asEuropa microbes have of
> >contaminating earth. They evolved there, they have home
> >field advantage. I doubt we pose a realistic risk. spike
>
> Well, when continental species get introduced to islands, it's sayonara
> locals 9 times out of 10, and sometimes very quickly. Earth has an
> enormous biosphere and bacteria at least swap genes with avidity.
> I doubt Europa can match that, assuming it has any life at all, simply
> as there's far less usable energy there.
I agree.
It would also be more clear to say not that Earth life has had more energy
available, but that in having more energy, it would seem to be able to
"evolve" faster, IMHO, than potential Europan life. This added with the
variety of Earth life over the guessed lack thereof of potential Europan
life would weigh heavily in favor of Earth life winning any colonization
battle.
But what about the mass exchange between celestial bodies? There does seem
to be such an exchange between Mars and Earth. Whether this is or can be a
significant way of spreading life remains to be seem. Surely, it's
comparable to some insects being blown to an island -- as compared with them
coming along on ships or planes.
Cheers!
Daniel Ust
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:59:40 MDT