​While I agree with the fundamental points of the post, I think we can get stuck in linear thinking paradigms. As the rate of change continues to increase, faster changes will have to occur. This is where I think it moves towards "science fiction" with the incorporation of silicon into the carbon framework.

There have been several studies that look at the characteristics of silicon-based amino acids as well as various operations in more complex biomolecules. It was observed that protein function is often kept intact.

The interesting thing from my point-of-view (background in chemistry and material science) is how much more complex the interactions with silicon can be. This is a field I will certainly be watching closely. Thanks for the post.