Convergent Evolution... or whatever.

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by superstring01, Mar 20, 2007.

  1. superstring01 Moderator

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    Evolutionary Convergence Theory (that most organic creatures would evolve SOMEWHAT like us, because, well, all other forms have been tried on this planet under pretty much all the circumstances under which life can survive... and BAM. You get homonid lifeforms consisting of a craneal, torso, two feet - leg, two hand - arm entities) is what we why we would most likely find a lot of creatures out THERE that look somewhat intelligeble to us.

    Why did this happen? Make it stop!
     
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  3. eburacum45 Valued Senior Member

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    I can make it stop; there is very little chance that any of the aliens in our galaxy or even the local group look enough like humans to be accurately called 'humanoid'. There are just too many variables.

    Some features of alien lifeforms are likely to be widespread; an endoskeleton of some sort, a nervous system, pumped circulatory fluid, bilateral symmetry, visual organs of some sort. Other features are likely to be parochial; the vertebrate jaw and skull, the pentadactyl limb. Even the erect biped posture might be relatively unusual- there have been very few examples on our world (hominins and penguins, and few others).

    Mnay intelligent species will have visual and/or other sense organs at the front of the animal, controlling manipulatory organs capable of a fine degree of dexterity and controlled by a complex nervous system. An almost indispensible requirement would be the ability to communicate complex information using a language of some sort, not necessarily using sound.

    Apart from that, the field is (in my opinion) wide open.
     
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