How many biological substrates that support life do we know of? There's our current Chemistry in three dimensions substrate based on carbon. Are there any others? What are some likely prospects?
Comments
downboots•1h ago
Does turing machine count?
energyscholar•40m ago
Well, downboots, a Turing machine computes. That's a step in the right direction. What are some requirements of life:
* Sustained energy throughput, aka thermodynamic disequilibrium - depends upon the substrate in which our Turing machines operates
* Sufficient degrees of freedom to perform computation - Turing machines compute, therefore any substrate that supports Turing machines has this. This includes autocatalytic Closure.
* Dissipative Non-linear reactions - not supported in conventional substrates that support turning machines. Are there perhaps some more exotic substrates that DO support this item?
So no, a Turing machines BY ITSELF does not qualify. That said, it's a step in the right direction. That's probably why Alan Turing pivoted away from digital computers and towards Morphogenesis towards the end of his life.
downboots•1h ago
energyscholar•40m ago
* Sustained energy throughput, aka thermodynamic disequilibrium - depends upon the substrate in which our Turing machines operates
* Sufficient degrees of freedom to perform computation - Turing machines compute, therefore any substrate that supports Turing machines has this. This includes autocatalytic Closure.
* Dissipative Non-linear reactions - not supported in conventional substrates that support turning machines. Are there perhaps some more exotic substrates that DO support this item?
So no, a Turing machines BY ITSELF does not qualify. That said, it's a step in the right direction. That's probably why Alan Turing pivoted away from digital computers and towards Morphogenesis towards the end of his life.