Alternatives to amino acids

Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and, therefore, one of the key components of life as we know it.

There are many amino acids in nature, but they all stem from the same basic structure.

They can polymerize into proteins, complex with metals, and bind to other important compounds.

However, they are have downsides, a limited temperature range, sensitive to strong acids, bases, and oxidizers.

My question is, what known polymers could aliens use in place of amino acids and what conditions would favor the use of those polymers?

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Alternatives to amino acids

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