Would Carbon-based Lifeforms Be Able to Eat Silicon-based Lifeforms?












13














In the South Galaxy, the overwhelming majority of life lives on planets, breathes air, and is carbon-based. All sentient life is carbon-based. However, in the vast reaches of space, there are some animals that float through the empty void, do not breathe (at least not air) and are silicon-based. These include Space Whales, huge whale-like (duh) creatures that inhabit nebulas. Would these Space Whales be edible to the carbon-based lifeforms or would it just be like eating sand?










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  • Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
    – Pelinore
    yesterday








  • 5




    By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
    – JBH
    yesterday






  • 1




    Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
    – Alchimista
    yesterday






  • 1




    My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
    – Jaycie Beveri
    yesterday










  • @JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
    – NofP
    yesterday
















13














In the South Galaxy, the overwhelming majority of life lives on planets, breathes air, and is carbon-based. All sentient life is carbon-based. However, in the vast reaches of space, there are some animals that float through the empty void, do not breathe (at least not air) and are silicon-based. These include Space Whales, huge whale-like (duh) creatures that inhabit nebulas. Would these Space Whales be edible to the carbon-based lifeforms or would it just be like eating sand?










share|improve this question






















  • Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
    – Pelinore
    yesterday








  • 5




    By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
    – JBH
    yesterday






  • 1




    Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
    – Alchimista
    yesterday






  • 1




    My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
    – Jaycie Beveri
    yesterday










  • @JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
    – NofP
    yesterday














13












13








13







In the South Galaxy, the overwhelming majority of life lives on planets, breathes air, and is carbon-based. All sentient life is carbon-based. However, in the vast reaches of space, there are some animals that float through the empty void, do not breathe (at least not air) and are silicon-based. These include Space Whales, huge whale-like (duh) creatures that inhabit nebulas. Would these Space Whales be edible to the carbon-based lifeforms or would it just be like eating sand?










share|improve this question













In the South Galaxy, the overwhelming majority of life lives on planets, breathes air, and is carbon-based. All sentient life is carbon-based. However, in the vast reaches of space, there are some animals that float through the empty void, do not breathe (at least not air) and are silicon-based. These include Space Whales, huge whale-like (duh) creatures that inhabit nebulas. Would these Space Whales be edible to the carbon-based lifeforms or would it just be like eating sand?







science-based space xenobiology food life






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share|improve this question










asked yesterday









The Weasel Sagas

1,112121




1,112121












  • Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
    – Pelinore
    yesterday








  • 5




    By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
    – JBH
    yesterday






  • 1




    Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
    – Alchimista
    yesterday






  • 1




    My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
    – Jaycie Beveri
    yesterday










  • @JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
    – NofP
    yesterday


















  • Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
    – Pelinore
    yesterday








  • 5




    By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
    – JBH
    yesterday






  • 1




    Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
    – Alchimista
    yesterday






  • 1




    My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
    – Jaycie Beveri
    yesterday










  • @JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
    – NofP
    yesterday
















Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
– Pelinore
yesterday






Plants & lichens can derive sustenance (minerals they need at least) from rock & they're carbon based, would a symbiotic relationship (some form of lichen like gut flora perhaps) or farming situation (where lichen is grown on your space whale then harvested) suit your requirements?
– Pelinore
yesterday






5




5




By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
– JBH
yesterday




By "eat" I assume you mean "consume for the purpose of absorbing nutrients or water to keep oneself alive" and not simply "can you eat styrofoam?" to which the answer is "yes, but it'll just constipate you before contiuing its eternal journey."
– JBH
yesterday




1




1




Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
– Alchimista
yesterday




Since Si cannot replace C in toto or even at all for life you might consider to detail to which extent the alien life is silicon based. They might have carbon proteins for instance....
– Alchimista
yesterday




1




1




My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
– Jaycie Beveri
yesterday




My guess (which is why I'm not putting this in an answer) is that you'd need an entire complex ecosystem of carbon based life forms to do this, in the same way we have simple ecosystems that turn forms of carbohydrates that are inedible to humans (grasses) into edible meat (deer, antelope, cattle, etc.). You'd probably need to begin at the microbial level, with bacterial analogs that specialize in one or two of the silanes bobtato mentions in his response below. Then these could be in the gut of a carbon-based ruminate analog that's edible to humans?
– Jaycie Beveri
yesterday












@JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
– NofP
yesterday




@JBH agree. Perhaps the OP could clarify whether it is about eating, or digesting.
– NofP
yesterday










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















12














Maybe some part might be edible.



buffalo tongues



https://allaboutbison.com/bison-in-history/1800s/1861-1868/



During the mass slaughter of the western herds of buffalo (American bison), many thousands of animals were killed just for the tongue. The rest of the animal was left where it fell to rot.



You could have something like this with your space whales. It sounds like it would help your story if they could get eaten by carbon based creatures. Maybe the vast bulk of the space whale is essentially silicious mineral matter but one tiny organ is carbon based - maybe the eye, or a gland in the brain. That part is super tasty and a prestige food for jaded rich people who are tickled by the idea of an enormous ancient being dying so they could eat its eye.






share|improve this answer

















  • 7




    I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
    – JBH
    yesterday






  • 1




    @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
    – Willk
    yesterday






  • 3




    @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
    – manassehkatz
    12 hours ago










  • Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
    – mcalex
    11 mins ago



















19














We are not able to digest silicon based materials. See for example rice hulls:




Rice hulls are the coatings of seeds, or grains, of rice. The husk protects the seed during the growing season, since it is formed from hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans.




Since your life forms are also silicon based, I doubt a human would able to metabolize any part of their bodies, we simply lack the chemicals to break down the molecules making up their bodies.






share|improve this answer





















  • If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
    – Pelinore
    yesterday












  • @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
    – L.Dutch
    yesterday








  • 6




    Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
    – Abigail
    yesterday










  • "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
    – Pelinore
    yesterday








  • 2




    @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
    – Loong
    17 hours ago



















18














The majority of the nutrients we need (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) are carbon-based, and silicon-based life is presumed to have incompatible analogs instead (with silanes replacing alkane groups).



Silicon-based organic analogs are often biologically inert (on Earth), which is why they're used for things like medical implants and cookware. Eating space whale meat wouldn't nourish you, but it probably wouldn't harm you either, at least in moderate amounts. Like clay eating (pica), it could become a problem just in mechanical terms if you eat too much of the stuff.



Space whale might contain one or two things you do need – most obviously water, but also salt and trace elements like iron and magnesium, which might be in forms that your digestive system could extract.



So, no, you couldn't live off it; but in starvation conditions it might be slightly better than sucking a button.



(Of course, if silicon is replacing carbon, the chemistry might be different in other ways. If, by the same logic, oxygen were replaced by sulfur, then you would have hydrogen sulfide instead of water, and then the space whale meat would be highly toxic and bad-smelling)



Edited to add:



I suppose another reason to eat space whale would be if it tasted good. But I suspect that silicon-based meat would not taste of much of anything. Our sense of smell (and taste) is known to be largely based on the shape of molecules, and because silicon atoms are larger than carbon atoms, the silicon-based analogs of tasty molecules would not fit taste / smell receptors designed for the carbon-based versions. Also, silicon-based "organic" molecules tend to be much more water-repellent. I imagine it would be like eating flavorless, oily clay or rubber.






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    1














    Humans eat for two different reasons:




    1. Energy. We need energy to survive. To get it, we eat plants, or animals which ate plants, and then, through the Calvin and Krebs Cycles, convert Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The extra phosphate in ATP stores energy. We then burn that ATP back into ADP to harness it. The number of basic types of foods that can give us energy are very limited, and all of them are carbon based, as carbon is needed in the Calvin and Krebs Cycles. Silicon-based lifeforms would most likely have no caloric value for human digestion.


    2. Nutrition. Humans need 20 different types of amino acids to survive. We can make 12 of them, leaving 8 which we must "harvest" from other organisms. These eight are called the "essential amino acids." Many other animals are capable of making them, so by eating them, we satisfy our needs. The only plant conclusively found to have all eight is quinoa, and flax seed is a maybe. Silicon-based lifeforms would not have these amino acids, as all of them contain carbon. This is what makes us carbon-based.



    There is no reason, therefore, for humans to want to eat these. It would likely give them indigestion. However, there are other reasons people might be hunting space-whales. In the 1800s, whales were killed for their oil, which was used in lamps. Perhaps these space-whales contain a critical energy source. There are plenty of reasons why they might be hunted, and I would consider using one of those in your world.






    share|improve this answer








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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      12














      Maybe some part might be edible.



      buffalo tongues



      https://allaboutbison.com/bison-in-history/1800s/1861-1868/



      During the mass slaughter of the western herds of buffalo (American bison), many thousands of animals were killed just for the tongue. The rest of the animal was left where it fell to rot.



      You could have something like this with your space whales. It sounds like it would help your story if they could get eaten by carbon based creatures. Maybe the vast bulk of the space whale is essentially silicious mineral matter but one tiny organ is carbon based - maybe the eye, or a gland in the brain. That part is super tasty and a prestige food for jaded rich people who are tickled by the idea of an enormous ancient being dying so they could eat its eye.






      share|improve this answer

















      • 7




        I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
        – JBH
        yesterday






      • 1




        @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
        – Willk
        yesterday






      • 3




        @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
        – manassehkatz
        12 hours ago










      • Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
        – mcalex
        11 mins ago
















      12














      Maybe some part might be edible.



      buffalo tongues



      https://allaboutbison.com/bison-in-history/1800s/1861-1868/



      During the mass slaughter of the western herds of buffalo (American bison), many thousands of animals were killed just for the tongue. The rest of the animal was left where it fell to rot.



      You could have something like this with your space whales. It sounds like it would help your story if they could get eaten by carbon based creatures. Maybe the vast bulk of the space whale is essentially silicious mineral matter but one tiny organ is carbon based - maybe the eye, or a gland in the brain. That part is super tasty and a prestige food for jaded rich people who are tickled by the idea of an enormous ancient being dying so they could eat its eye.






      share|improve this answer

















      • 7




        I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
        – JBH
        yesterday






      • 1




        @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
        – Willk
        yesterday






      • 3




        @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
        – manassehkatz
        12 hours ago










      • Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
        – mcalex
        11 mins ago














      12












      12








      12






      Maybe some part might be edible.



      buffalo tongues



      https://allaboutbison.com/bison-in-history/1800s/1861-1868/



      During the mass slaughter of the western herds of buffalo (American bison), many thousands of animals were killed just for the tongue. The rest of the animal was left where it fell to rot.



      You could have something like this with your space whales. It sounds like it would help your story if they could get eaten by carbon based creatures. Maybe the vast bulk of the space whale is essentially silicious mineral matter but one tiny organ is carbon based - maybe the eye, or a gland in the brain. That part is super tasty and a prestige food for jaded rich people who are tickled by the idea of an enormous ancient being dying so they could eat its eye.






      share|improve this answer












      Maybe some part might be edible.



      buffalo tongues



      https://allaboutbison.com/bison-in-history/1800s/1861-1868/



      During the mass slaughter of the western herds of buffalo (American bison), many thousands of animals were killed just for the tongue. The rest of the animal was left where it fell to rot.



      You could have something like this with your space whales. It sounds like it would help your story if they could get eaten by carbon based creatures. Maybe the vast bulk of the space whale is essentially silicious mineral matter but one tiny organ is carbon based - maybe the eye, or a gland in the brain. That part is super tasty and a prestige food for jaded rich people who are tickled by the idea of an enormous ancient being dying so they could eat its eye.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered yesterday









      Willk

      102k25196431




      102k25196431








      • 7




        I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
        – JBH
        yesterday






      • 1




        @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
        – Willk
        yesterday






      • 3




        @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
        – manassehkatz
        12 hours ago










      • Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
        – mcalex
        11 mins ago














      • 7




        I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
        – JBH
        yesterday






      • 1




        @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
        – Willk
        yesterday






      • 3




        @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
        – manassehkatz
        12 hours ago










      • Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
        – mcalex
        11 mins ago








      7




      7




      I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
      – JBH
      yesterday




      I can't help myself and must point out that the very next item is "green paint," which might actually be more akin to space whales than buffalo toungues. I'm just sayin'. 😀
      – JBH
      yesterday




      1




      1




      @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
      – Willk
      yesterday




      @JBH - it is kind of weird that only green paint would be up for auction.
      – Willk
      yesterday




      3




      3




      @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
      – manassehkatz
      12 hours ago




      @Willk Now we just walk into a paint store or big box store and pick a color from thousands of choices and they mix it up on the spot. Not that long ago, each significant (not necessarily "primary") color came from a very different animal, vegetable or mineral source and it could easily be that some would be more or less rare/valuable than others.
      – manassehkatz
      12 hours ago












      Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
      – mcalex
      11 mins ago




      Note also the subsequent 'verdigris' item. This is the pigment that makes the paint green.
      – mcalex
      11 mins ago











      19














      We are not able to digest silicon based materials. See for example rice hulls:




      Rice hulls are the coatings of seeds, or grains, of rice. The husk protects the seed during the growing season, since it is formed from hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans.




      Since your life forms are also silicon based, I doubt a human would able to metabolize any part of their bodies, we simply lack the chemicals to break down the molecules making up their bodies.






      share|improve this answer





















      • If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
        – Pelinore
        yesterday












      • @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
        – L.Dutch
        yesterday








      • 6




        Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
        – Abigail
        yesterday










      • "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
        – Pelinore
        yesterday








      • 2




        @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
        – Loong
        17 hours ago
















      19














      We are not able to digest silicon based materials. See for example rice hulls:




      Rice hulls are the coatings of seeds, or grains, of rice. The husk protects the seed during the growing season, since it is formed from hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans.




      Since your life forms are also silicon based, I doubt a human would able to metabolize any part of their bodies, we simply lack the chemicals to break down the molecules making up their bodies.






      share|improve this answer





















      • If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
        – Pelinore
        yesterday












      • @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
        – L.Dutch
        yesterday








      • 6




        Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
        – Abigail
        yesterday










      • "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
        – Pelinore
        yesterday








      • 2




        @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
        – Loong
        17 hours ago














      19












      19








      19






      We are not able to digest silicon based materials. See for example rice hulls:




      Rice hulls are the coatings of seeds, or grains, of rice. The husk protects the seed during the growing season, since it is formed from hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans.




      Since your life forms are also silicon based, I doubt a human would able to metabolize any part of their bodies, we simply lack the chemicals to break down the molecules making up their bodies.






      share|improve this answer












      We are not able to digest silicon based materials. See for example rice hulls:




      Rice hulls are the coatings of seeds, or grains, of rice. The husk protects the seed during the growing season, since it is formed from hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans.




      Since your life forms are also silicon based, I doubt a human would able to metabolize any part of their bodies, we simply lack the chemicals to break down the molecules making up their bodies.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered yesterday









      L.Dutch

      77.9k26186380




      77.9k26186380












      • If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
        – Pelinore
        yesterday












      • @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
        – L.Dutch
        yesterday








      • 6




        Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
        – Abigail
        yesterday










      • "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
        – Pelinore
        yesterday








      • 2




        @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
        – Loong
        17 hours ago


















      • If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
        – Pelinore
        yesterday












      • @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
        – L.Dutch
        yesterday








      • 6




        Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
        – Abigail
        yesterday










      • "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
        – Pelinore
        yesterday








      • 2




        @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
        – Loong
        17 hours ago
















      If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
      – Pelinore
      yesterday






      If I understand the concept of silicon based lifeforms correctly (which I may not of course) the silicon (among other things) replaces the carbon we as carbon based lifeforms use for the forming of complex bonds in DNA, also silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen so it's unlikely to be used for some form of respiration even if used elsewhere in the organism in places we use carbon : so if the "silicon life" is just using the silicon for DNA there might not be any reason to suppose it's "cells" & proteins might not have some digestible components for carbon life forms?
      – Pelinore
      yesterday














      @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
      – L.Dutch
      yesterday






      @Pelinore, carbohydrates are also based on Carbon, like also proteins and lipids. A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere
      – L.Dutch
      yesterday






      6




      6




      Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
      – Abigail
      yesterday




      Can we easily extrapolate the inability of humans to digest silicon based materials to all carbon based lifeforms? That is, is the inability to digest rice hulls just something humans can't do, or it that something intrinsic to carbon based lifeforms?
      – Abigail
      yesterday












      "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
      – Pelinore
      yesterday






      "A Silicon based life form would replace Carbon with Silicon everywhere" I guess that does make sense, the primary assumption of silicon based life is that it evolves in a carbon poor silicon rich environment after all.
      – Pelinore
      yesterday






      2




      2




      @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
      – Loong
      17 hours ago




      @Pelinore "… silicon doesn't easily form bonds with oxygen …" – Oxygen compounds (e.g. silicates, silicon dioxide) actually are the most abundant form of silicon.
      – Loong
      17 hours ago











      18














      The majority of the nutrients we need (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) are carbon-based, and silicon-based life is presumed to have incompatible analogs instead (with silanes replacing alkane groups).



      Silicon-based organic analogs are often biologically inert (on Earth), which is why they're used for things like medical implants and cookware. Eating space whale meat wouldn't nourish you, but it probably wouldn't harm you either, at least in moderate amounts. Like clay eating (pica), it could become a problem just in mechanical terms if you eat too much of the stuff.



      Space whale might contain one or two things you do need – most obviously water, but also salt and trace elements like iron and magnesium, which might be in forms that your digestive system could extract.



      So, no, you couldn't live off it; but in starvation conditions it might be slightly better than sucking a button.



      (Of course, if silicon is replacing carbon, the chemistry might be different in other ways. If, by the same logic, oxygen were replaced by sulfur, then you would have hydrogen sulfide instead of water, and then the space whale meat would be highly toxic and bad-smelling)



      Edited to add:



      I suppose another reason to eat space whale would be if it tasted good. But I suspect that silicon-based meat would not taste of much of anything. Our sense of smell (and taste) is known to be largely based on the shape of molecules, and because silicon atoms are larger than carbon atoms, the silicon-based analogs of tasty molecules would not fit taste / smell receptors designed for the carbon-based versions. Also, silicon-based "organic" molecules tend to be much more water-repellent. I imagine it would be like eating flavorless, oily clay or rubber.






      share|improve this answer




























        18














        The majority of the nutrients we need (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) are carbon-based, and silicon-based life is presumed to have incompatible analogs instead (with silanes replacing alkane groups).



        Silicon-based organic analogs are often biologically inert (on Earth), which is why they're used for things like medical implants and cookware. Eating space whale meat wouldn't nourish you, but it probably wouldn't harm you either, at least in moderate amounts. Like clay eating (pica), it could become a problem just in mechanical terms if you eat too much of the stuff.



        Space whale might contain one or two things you do need – most obviously water, but also salt and trace elements like iron and magnesium, which might be in forms that your digestive system could extract.



        So, no, you couldn't live off it; but in starvation conditions it might be slightly better than sucking a button.



        (Of course, if silicon is replacing carbon, the chemistry might be different in other ways. If, by the same logic, oxygen were replaced by sulfur, then you would have hydrogen sulfide instead of water, and then the space whale meat would be highly toxic and bad-smelling)



        Edited to add:



        I suppose another reason to eat space whale would be if it tasted good. But I suspect that silicon-based meat would not taste of much of anything. Our sense of smell (and taste) is known to be largely based on the shape of molecules, and because silicon atoms are larger than carbon atoms, the silicon-based analogs of tasty molecules would not fit taste / smell receptors designed for the carbon-based versions. Also, silicon-based "organic" molecules tend to be much more water-repellent. I imagine it would be like eating flavorless, oily clay or rubber.






        share|improve this answer


























          18












          18








          18






          The majority of the nutrients we need (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) are carbon-based, and silicon-based life is presumed to have incompatible analogs instead (with silanes replacing alkane groups).



          Silicon-based organic analogs are often biologically inert (on Earth), which is why they're used for things like medical implants and cookware. Eating space whale meat wouldn't nourish you, but it probably wouldn't harm you either, at least in moderate amounts. Like clay eating (pica), it could become a problem just in mechanical terms if you eat too much of the stuff.



          Space whale might contain one or two things you do need – most obviously water, but also salt and trace elements like iron and magnesium, which might be in forms that your digestive system could extract.



          So, no, you couldn't live off it; but in starvation conditions it might be slightly better than sucking a button.



          (Of course, if silicon is replacing carbon, the chemistry might be different in other ways. If, by the same logic, oxygen were replaced by sulfur, then you would have hydrogen sulfide instead of water, and then the space whale meat would be highly toxic and bad-smelling)



          Edited to add:



          I suppose another reason to eat space whale would be if it tasted good. But I suspect that silicon-based meat would not taste of much of anything. Our sense of smell (and taste) is known to be largely based on the shape of molecules, and because silicon atoms are larger than carbon atoms, the silicon-based analogs of tasty molecules would not fit taste / smell receptors designed for the carbon-based versions. Also, silicon-based "organic" molecules tend to be much more water-repellent. I imagine it would be like eating flavorless, oily clay or rubber.






          share|improve this answer














          The majority of the nutrients we need (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) are carbon-based, and silicon-based life is presumed to have incompatible analogs instead (with silanes replacing alkane groups).



          Silicon-based organic analogs are often biologically inert (on Earth), which is why they're used for things like medical implants and cookware. Eating space whale meat wouldn't nourish you, but it probably wouldn't harm you either, at least in moderate amounts. Like clay eating (pica), it could become a problem just in mechanical terms if you eat too much of the stuff.



          Space whale might contain one or two things you do need – most obviously water, but also salt and trace elements like iron and magnesium, which might be in forms that your digestive system could extract.



          So, no, you couldn't live off it; but in starvation conditions it might be slightly better than sucking a button.



          (Of course, if silicon is replacing carbon, the chemistry might be different in other ways. If, by the same logic, oxygen were replaced by sulfur, then you would have hydrogen sulfide instead of water, and then the space whale meat would be highly toxic and bad-smelling)



          Edited to add:



          I suppose another reason to eat space whale would be if it tasted good. But I suspect that silicon-based meat would not taste of much of anything. Our sense of smell (and taste) is known to be largely based on the shape of molecules, and because silicon atoms are larger than carbon atoms, the silicon-based analogs of tasty molecules would not fit taste / smell receptors designed for the carbon-based versions. Also, silicon-based "organic" molecules tend to be much more water-repellent. I imagine it would be like eating flavorless, oily clay or rubber.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited yesterday

























          answered yesterday









          bobtato

          2,778516




          2,778516























              1














              Humans eat for two different reasons:




              1. Energy. We need energy to survive. To get it, we eat plants, or animals which ate plants, and then, through the Calvin and Krebs Cycles, convert Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The extra phosphate in ATP stores energy. We then burn that ATP back into ADP to harness it. The number of basic types of foods that can give us energy are very limited, and all of them are carbon based, as carbon is needed in the Calvin and Krebs Cycles. Silicon-based lifeforms would most likely have no caloric value for human digestion.


              2. Nutrition. Humans need 20 different types of amino acids to survive. We can make 12 of them, leaving 8 which we must "harvest" from other organisms. These eight are called the "essential amino acids." Many other animals are capable of making them, so by eating them, we satisfy our needs. The only plant conclusively found to have all eight is quinoa, and flax seed is a maybe. Silicon-based lifeforms would not have these amino acids, as all of them contain carbon. This is what makes us carbon-based.



              There is no reason, therefore, for humans to want to eat these. It would likely give them indigestion. However, there are other reasons people might be hunting space-whales. In the 1800s, whales were killed for their oil, which was used in lamps. Perhaps these space-whales contain a critical energy source. There are plenty of reasons why they might be hunted, and I would consider using one of those in your world.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.























                1














                Humans eat for two different reasons:




                1. Energy. We need energy to survive. To get it, we eat plants, or animals which ate plants, and then, through the Calvin and Krebs Cycles, convert Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The extra phosphate in ATP stores energy. We then burn that ATP back into ADP to harness it. The number of basic types of foods that can give us energy are very limited, and all of them are carbon based, as carbon is needed in the Calvin and Krebs Cycles. Silicon-based lifeforms would most likely have no caloric value for human digestion.


                2. Nutrition. Humans need 20 different types of amino acids to survive. We can make 12 of them, leaving 8 which we must "harvest" from other organisms. These eight are called the "essential amino acids." Many other animals are capable of making them, so by eating them, we satisfy our needs. The only plant conclusively found to have all eight is quinoa, and flax seed is a maybe. Silicon-based lifeforms would not have these amino acids, as all of them contain carbon. This is what makes us carbon-based.



                There is no reason, therefore, for humans to want to eat these. It would likely give them indigestion. However, there are other reasons people might be hunting space-whales. In the 1800s, whales were killed for their oil, which was used in lamps. Perhaps these space-whales contain a critical energy source. There are plenty of reasons why they might be hunted, and I would consider using one of those in your world.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                  1












                  1








                  1






                  Humans eat for two different reasons:




                  1. Energy. We need energy to survive. To get it, we eat plants, or animals which ate plants, and then, through the Calvin and Krebs Cycles, convert Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The extra phosphate in ATP stores energy. We then burn that ATP back into ADP to harness it. The number of basic types of foods that can give us energy are very limited, and all of them are carbon based, as carbon is needed in the Calvin and Krebs Cycles. Silicon-based lifeforms would most likely have no caloric value for human digestion.


                  2. Nutrition. Humans need 20 different types of amino acids to survive. We can make 12 of them, leaving 8 which we must "harvest" from other organisms. These eight are called the "essential amino acids." Many other animals are capable of making them, so by eating them, we satisfy our needs. The only plant conclusively found to have all eight is quinoa, and flax seed is a maybe. Silicon-based lifeforms would not have these amino acids, as all of them contain carbon. This is what makes us carbon-based.



                  There is no reason, therefore, for humans to want to eat these. It would likely give them indigestion. However, there are other reasons people might be hunting space-whales. In the 1800s, whales were killed for their oil, which was used in lamps. Perhaps these space-whales contain a critical energy source. There are plenty of reasons why they might be hunted, and I would consider using one of those in your world.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  Humans eat for two different reasons:




                  1. Energy. We need energy to survive. To get it, we eat plants, or animals which ate plants, and then, through the Calvin and Krebs Cycles, convert Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The extra phosphate in ATP stores energy. We then burn that ATP back into ADP to harness it. The number of basic types of foods that can give us energy are very limited, and all of them are carbon based, as carbon is needed in the Calvin and Krebs Cycles. Silicon-based lifeforms would most likely have no caloric value for human digestion.


                  2. Nutrition. Humans need 20 different types of amino acids to survive. We can make 12 of them, leaving 8 which we must "harvest" from other organisms. These eight are called the "essential amino acids." Many other animals are capable of making them, so by eating them, we satisfy our needs. The only plant conclusively found to have all eight is quinoa, and flax seed is a maybe. Silicon-based lifeforms would not have these amino acids, as all of them contain carbon. This is what makes us carbon-based.



                  There is no reason, therefore, for humans to want to eat these. It would likely give them indigestion. However, there are other reasons people might be hunting space-whales. In the 1800s, whales were killed for their oil, which was used in lamps. Perhaps these space-whales contain a critical energy source. There are plenty of reasons why they might be hunted, and I would consider using one of those in your world.







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 6 hours ago









                  William Grannis

                  1112




                  1112




                  New contributor




                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  William Grannis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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