CurtAdams@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 3/13/01 9:28:22 PM, spike66@attglobal.net writes:
>
> >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.
True, however, any organisms there would necessarily be extremophiles:
existing in conditions considered on the margin of or completely
inhospitable to the overwhelming majority of terran biota
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:59:40 MDT