The process which led to the creation of humankind on earth was a fluke - and it is highly unlikely it has been repeated anywhere else in the galaxy.

That is the view of English physicist Professor Brian Cox, who made the assertion in an episode of BBC's Human Universe.

This is it: Brian Cox says Earth is the only "advanced technological civilisation" in the galaxy.

Professor Cox thwarted suggestions alien life was a possibility and said he believed humans were the only form of civilisation in our galaxy, despite the astronomical number of other planets in it.

The presenter and scientist, who also appeared on the ABC's Q&A program last week, blamed a series of "evolutionary bottlenecks" as the main reason no extraterrestrial life has been discovered.