Silicon is directly below carbon on the periodic table. As such, the two elements share many properties, such as their abilities to form long chains and polymers. Thus, silicon is seen as being a very promising alternate element as the basis for lifeforms.
Besides carbon-based lifeforms, silicon-based lifeforms are seen as being the most likely to occur naturally. Silicon can form metallic cells with iron and other metallic elements that possess stable cell structures and excretion systems. Those cells can then obtain energy from the outside world in order to maintain life. Lu Zhiyu had previously observed silicon-based life, but this case already seemed very different from what Lu Zhiyu had previously discovered.
Similar to the way that Lu Zhiyu had investigated evolution from carbon-based lifeforms, then modified his own genes to become more adaptable and powerful, this lifeform was also searching for a way to evolve.
