People with a Different Sort of "Genius"

[isladogs]

Not sure how this thread has migrated from geniuses to macros....

Anyway, another contender for unconventional genius may be Freeman Dyson who died last week.

Freeman Dyson obituary

Brilliant theoretical physicist and mathematician whose far-fetched ideas for the future verged on the bizarre

www.theguardian.com

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Here's one I devised. I posit a few assertions, but I think they are reasonable. Intelligent life will be carbon based, and DNA based. DNA is based on 4 protein DNA bases, ACGT. I actually think it will be anthropoid in general.

Now scientists advise that we share 98% of DNA with chimps, and even 50% DNA with bananas.

So this is my theory, and this is what it is (to paraphrase Monty Python). When we finally meet alien life forms, they will be carbon based, they will be DNA based, and although we will never have met before, we will share substantial amounts of DNA with them. Now that's "spooky at a distance"

I also enjoy watching Ancient Aliens, and wonder why they never mention Immanuel Velikovsky. (who surely was a genius)

 

[AccessBlaster]

Now scientists advise that we share 98% of DNA with chimps, and even 50% DNA with bananas.

That 2% must be huge, if not we should be using primate heart valves instead of pig?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

P.E.T.A. would jump up and down if we started using primate organs instead of porcine organs. But as I understand it, there IS an issue with genetics. I can't talk about pigs, but primates don't match our DNA that well due to the fact that we have 23 chromosomes; primates have 24. Primate genes #2 and #13 fused in our branch but stayed separate in their branch. That means that our enzymes won't work the same for our primate cousins' parts.

 

[Grumm]

That 2% must be huge, if not we should be using primate heart valves instead of pig?

For me even 50% similar with bananas is already huge. Maybe stuffing bananans in someones body can help half the time ??

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

So if I'm half banana, which half is banana?

 

[Galaxiom]

I can't talk about pigs, but primates don't match our DNA that well due to the fact that we have 23 chromosomes; primates have 24. Primate genes #2 and #13 fused in our branch but stayed separate in their branch.

Humans are primates.

 

[Galaxiom]

Intelligent life will be carbon based, and DNA based. DNA is based on 4 protein DNA bases, ACGT. I actually think it will be anthropoid in general.

Octopus are very intelligent and not even vaguely anthropoid.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Actually, true G. Loose wording on my part, which I clarified in the next sentence by pointing out that the chromosome difference is part of the difference between the more ape-like branch vs. our branch. In fact, humans are indeed classified as primates. Forgive me if I get the order wrong, but we are Eukaria Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primata Hominidae Homo Sapiens. (And many authorities tack on a second Sapiens.) The split in our tree that I mentioned is what makes us different from "Pan," which is another branch descending from the Homonids.

 

[jdraw]

Tony is half banana?? Well, I'll be monkey's uncle--jeez maybe I am.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Octopus are very intelligent and not even vaguely anthropoid.

I was watching a program on some science channel, some scientist think Octopus are not terrestrial to this planet.