I work at a prestigious college and emailed the chair of the molecular biology department the EBO story. Here’s the response:

Title: Analyzing a Fictional Extraterrestrial Genome Story: Scientific Insights and Common Pitfalls

As professionals engaged in the fields of molecular biology and genetics, we often encounter narratives—whether in academic discussions, popular science, or fictional accounts—that explore the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. Recently, I came across a story shared on a platform that attempts to describe the genetic makeup of an alien organism. As someone working at a distinguished academic institution, I found it enlightening to analyze the scientific plausibility and the inaccuracies embedded within this account.

The story contains several detailed sections on genetics and molecular biology, utilizing an extensive array of technical terminology. This level of detail demonstrates an effort to ground the narrative in scientific concepts. However, upon closer examination, certain errors reveal a superficial understanding of the core principles involved, or perhaps a careless approach to scientific accuracy.

A notable misconception in the story pertains to the nature of genomes and proteins. The narrative suggests that the genome “contains” or “possesses” proteins, a statement that deviates from fundamental genetic understanding. In actuality, genomes encode proteins through the processes of transcription and translation, but they are not physical entities that contain proteins themselves. This is a common simplification or misstatement often seen in foundational teaching, but it is less likely for a researcher or postdoctoral scientist to make such an error—though it might slip past AI-generated text or non-expert writers.

Another salient point revolves around the data limitations described in the story. The notion that only a single genome has been sequenced for an extraterrestrial organism, especially from multiple individuals, raises questions. Given how accessible and affordable genome sequencing has become, sequencing multiple individuals would be standard practice in genetic research. Therefore, citing only one sequenced genome—particularly in a scenario involving multiple specimens—appears inconsistent with current scientific methodology.

Additionally, the story mentions that the mitochondrial genome was not sequenced. This omission is perplexing because, in genome assembly, mitochondrial DNA is typically sequenced alongside nuclear DNA due to its relative abundance and importance in cellular function. Omitting mitochondrial data suggests an incomplete or flawed approach to genomic sequencing, which diminishes the overall credibility of the narrative.

Despite these technical inaccuracies, the story’s imaginative premise—proposing that extraterrestrial organisms might share a biochemical genetic basis similar to Earth’s eukaryotes—is commendable. It aligns with ongoing debates in astrobiology about the potential forms of life beyond Earth. Most researchers consider that extraterrestrial life could resemble microbial forms