If we assume that the physics of this universe holds everywhere and that there is a lot of life spread across the billions of galaxies, then does that life hold to the same carbon-based biochemistry as a generalizable principle? Or, alternatively, if we could play “the tape” back over from the formation of our planet, would we end up with a recognizable biosphere?
So, when our probes test for life–say on Mars–will they recognize the signatures of life?
Discoverers and Discoveries 