(Chemistry nerd )"Mirror" universe

Is it possible that there is a quantum reality in which proteins are mainly composed of D-amino acids and sugars are composed of L-saccharides.And how would you write a storyline with this setting?

 

Well I haven't the slightest clue, so I asked ChatGPT...

Certainly! In a hypothetical quantum reality where the chirality of molecules is reversed, with proteins primarily composed of D-amino acids and sugars made of L-saccharides, the implications would be profound.

Here's a storyline set in this alternate reality:

Title: Chiral Shift

In a parallel universe governed by reversed chirality, life has evolved with astonishing differences. On the planet Xylon, where sentient beings thrive, the very essence of biology diverges from our understanding.

The protagonist, Dr. Elena Nova, a renowned biochemist, makes a groundbreaking discovery while conducting research on Xylon. She stumbles upon an ancient artifact, a crystal with peculiar properties, capable of manipulating the chirality of molecules.

As she delves deeper into her findings, Elena realizes the crystal has the potential to alter the fundamental structure of life forms. With her team, she embarks on a journey to harness this power for the betterment of Xylon's inhabitants.

However, their efforts attract the attention of a malevolent faction, the Chiral Extremists, who seek to exploit the crystal's power for their own nefarious agenda. Led by the charismatic but ruthless Dr. Zara Helix, they aim to reshape Xylon's ecosystem to suit their vision of dominance.

Caught in a race against time, Elena must navigate treacherous landscapes and outmaneuver the Extremists to prevent catastrophe. Along the way, she forms alliances with unlikely allies, including a rebel group of Xylon's indigenous species, who possess ancient knowledge of the crystal's origins.

As the conflict escalates, Elena faces moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices, questioning the very nature of scientific progress and its implications for sentient life. In a climactic showdown, she must confront Dr. Helix and decide the fate of Xylon's future.

In the aftermath, as Xylon rebuilds from the turmoil, Elena reflects on the lessons learned and the resilience of life in adapting to the unpredictable forces of the universe. And amidst the chaos, she finds solace in the bonds forged with her companions, united in their quest for a better tomorrow.

Chiral Shift is a tale of discovery, courage, and the eternal struggle between ambition and altruism in the face of cosmic uncertainty.

 

~ For non-chemistry nerds like me (chemistry was my least favourite science at school, and we certainly didn't get this in-depth), what does this mean? How would life be different and what could it look like? Could a lifeform like this live in an environment like ours (M-class), or would it be totally incompatible?

 

The homochirality of life:

In biology, 19 of the 20 natural amino acids are homochiral, being L-chiral (left-handed), while sugars are D-chiral (right-handed). Homochirality can also refer to enantiopure substances in which all the constituents are the same enantiomer (a right-handed or left-handed version of an atom or molecule), but some sources discourage this use of the term.

It is unclear whether homochirality has a purpose; however, it appears to be a form of information storage. One suggestion is that it reduces entropy barriers in the formation of large organized molecules. It has been experimentally verified that amino acids form large aggregates in larger abundance from an enantiopure samples of the amino acid than from racemic (enantiomerically mixed) ones.
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The (L) and (D) configurations are enantiomers that are molecules made of the same elements but which are mirror images of each other, and repositioning it in 3-dimensional space will never allow you to superimpose it over its other enantiomer (e.g., your hands, both have the same basic configuration, but they’re mirror images of each other).

The current theory is that the L-amino acid and R-sugar relationship is more prevalent because D-amino acids and L-sugars are less stable because of a variety of factors (e.g., more reactive in the environment)

 

Thank you, @Citiprime I got the bit about hands being mirror images of each other but that was about it .
I'm going to bow out now as I'm not sure @1001001 will lend me his robot & monkey on a long term basis

 

Wasn't this a plot-point in Spock Must Die!?

Spoiler: Spock Must Die!

Evil!Spock was found out because his amino acids (or something) had been mirrored so he couldn't live off of normal food.

 

Does it has to be in a different reality, rather on an alien planet in our own reality?



Just wondering...are you in school?