A rule-breaking bacterium, thought to not only tolerate arsenic but actually incorporate the poison into its DNA (swapping out phosphorus), has been found to be a law-abider. Two new studies detailed online Sunday (July 8) in the journal Science find the bacterium called GFAJ-1 can’t substitute arsenic for phosphorus to survive.

The new studies refute a December 2010 finding that, if confirmed, would have revolutionized how we think about life. “If true, such a finding would have important implications for our understanding of life’s basic requirements since all known forms of life on Earth use six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur,” according to a statement released today by the editors of Science.

If an organism on Earth were found to survive without one of these building blocks, it could mean that life on other planets (as well as our own) is more adaptable than expected.

(via bourbonismycopilot)

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