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Using exoplanets to test the universality of biology

The detection of biosignatures on extrasolar planets would allow us to explore the predictability of evolution. What could we learn without directly obtaining a sample of life?

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Fig. 1: Universal biology?

PHL @ UPR Arecibo

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges support from STFC grant ST/R000875/1 and helpful comments from J. Raven.

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Correspondence to Charles S. Cockell.

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Cockell, C.S. Using exoplanets to test the universality of biology. Nat Astron 2, 758–759 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0586-x

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