Has anyone ever come up with a definition of LIFE independent on the MATTER upon which it acts?

Question

I think "life" or that which makes an animal or cell be considered "ALIVE" as opposed to "dead" is elusive. We know when someone is alive and when life leaves the body. But we can not isolate what this "life force" is. We can only describe how matter acts once it contains "life"........Electricity is the flow of electrons as far as I know. Is there a similar definition for "lfe" and is "the flow of electrons" an adequate definition for electricity, or is electricity just as elusive?

Answer 1

The flow of electrons is *almost* an adequate definition for electricity. In aqueous electrolyte solutions, ions are carrying around the electrical charge. In proton conductors, such as ice, protons are carrying the electrical charge. However, ultimately it comes down to electrons or lack thereof.

We do not yet have a definition of life (at least not one that actually makes sense). We can try to define life by its observed characteristics:

1. made of cells;

2. grows;

3. reproduces;

4. metabolizes; exchanges materials with the environment;

5. adapts to its surroundings.

However, we could create nanobots to act like cells (given sufficient advance in technological understanding) and assemble "organisms" under this definition out of inorganic matter.

So, you are certainly right that we cannot isolate the "life force". One definition that I like is that life is that which constantly resists the influx of entropy. That is, life takes in nutrients and expels waste materials, producing energy in order to stop the disorder from conquering it. In doing so, it introduces disorder elsewhere, which we humans know "full well"...