University of Oxford researchers use principles of evolutionary biology to figure out what aliens could look like

Researchers from the University of Oxford have demonstrated how the theory of evolution can be applied to extraterrestrial life, to predict their appearance and understand their behavior. In movies and science fiction, aliens tend to be horrifyingly monstrous in depiction, but the research shows that the aliens could actually look similar to organisms on Earth. The same forces that shaped humans on Earth, would apple to organisms living on exoplanets that support life. [caption id=“attachment_4188931” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] An alien with multiple intricate parts that has gone through several major transitions. Image: Helen S. Cooper/ University of Oxford, colourised with PaintsChainer.[/caption] The research supports the idea that extra terrestrial life goes through the process of natural selection, and evolve over time to be fitter and stronger. The theory applies to even exotic forms of life, that are independent of the details of life on Earth. A potential silicon based organism that does not have DNA and breathes nitrogen, would still undergo the process of natural selection and adapt to its environment. Sam Levin, a researcher in Oxford’s Department of Zoology sa ys, “We still can’t say whether aliens will walk on two legs or have big green eyes. But we believe evolutionary theory offers a unique additional tool for trying to understand what aliens will be like, and we have shown some examples of the kinds of strong predictions we can make with it.” The paper studies how the emergence of complex life forms would apply to alien organisms. There were a series of events known as major transitions that increased the complexity of life on Earth, such as the evolution of multicellularity, eusociality or sexual reproduction. Theories and data together suggest that extreme conditions are required for major transitions to take place. The paper predicts that alien life forms would also move through these major transitions, giving some form of predictability to their evolution and appearance. Levin also explains, “Like humans, we predict that they are made-up of a hierarchy of entities, which all cooperate to produce an alien. At each level of the organism there will be mechanisms in place to eliminate conflict, maintain cooperation, and keep the organism functioning. We can even offer some examples of what these mechanisms will be.” The paper contains sketches of what some alien organisms could look like. One buried organism appears to be a colony of sorts, with worms like organisms that can disengage, tunnel through the Earth and fly away. The organism has been dubbed the “Octomite”, with a hierarchy of entities each having designated tasks, but the entities are mutually dependent for survival. [caption id=“attachment_4188939” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] The Octomite. Illustration by Helen S. Cooper/ University of Oxford, colourised with PaintsChainer.[/caption] There are hundreds of thousands of habitable exoplanets in the Milky Way Galaxy alone, and the research takes small steps towards understanding what alien life would look like, if Earth is not the only planet to harbour life. The study has been published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.