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I'm wondering if there has been any life discovered on Earth that is not DNA based (life that has evolved in extreme environments, for example).
Yes, we are surrounded by a form of life that is not based on DNA -- we call these viruses. While some viruses have DNA, the majority use RNA to store genetic information. Many scientists would argue that a virus is not truly alive, since it cannot metabolize or reproduce except by inserting itself into a host cell. In the sprit of your question, however, I think one might classify a RNA-virus as a life form that is not DNA based.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
June 4, 2008
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