I've heard a lot of discussion recently about alternative biochemistries, mostly relating to how chemical life might function in a solvent other than water, so it seems like a thread on alternative 'scaffolding' to carbon might be interesting.

For the sake of argument I'd like to propose a carbon-sulphur mix. Sulphur is a reactive, versatile element, which forms long chains, helixes and rings. It's chemistry is not as versatile as that of carbon, but it forms stable compounds with almost every element and is already an essential element for life as we know it. Many organisms use sulfate as an alternative to oxygen, some use hydrogen sulfide as an alternative to water in primitive photosynthesis, soem use it as a food to be oxidised, and elemental sulphur is a component of two amino acids. On a world with much more abundant sulphur than earth it seems reasonable to speculate that sulphur could be as fundamental to biochemistry as carbon, given that sulphur or its compounds can function as both electron acceptor and donor, and given the number of roles it fills here on earth when available.

I've heard of a nitrogen-phosphorous biochemistry being suggested, does anyone have any more information on that, or any out there (but still chemistry based) ideas of their own?

Disclaimer: I'm not a biochemist, and my knowledge of chemistry is fairly limited so I'm hoping for fun (and educational to my limited knowledge) speculation; if the discussion turns to serious biochemistry I'm likely to run and hide (whilst being very impressed by those who dare to join in).

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