Is protein, in itself, living?

Question

Does protein contain cells? Do things like even oil have cells?

Answer 1

Protein isn't living, no. For something to be defined as living it has to have the following characteristics:

Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, & Nutrition.

Protein doesn't really do any of those things on its own.

Cells are made from proteins (among other things). Proteins don't contain cells. Oil doesn't contain cells either.

Answer 2

for something to be a cell, it must have a mitochondria. does protein have mitochondria? no? then it is not living

even something with a mito. but without a nucleus is a cell (ex. Red Blood Cells)

Answer 3

Proteins and oils etc are organic chemical molecules. They consist of the chemical elements N,S,C,O (oxygen), H (hydrogen). These elements are atoms, so indeed they are smaller parts of a whole, but that doesn't make them cells in the biological sense. Biological cells are built out of organic molecules.

The question whether they are living is slightly more difficult. It depends on what you mean by living. We most of the time call a plant or an animal living, because it consists of at least one biological cell -that's why viruses aren't living in this definition- that can reproduct by means of DNA, a very large organic molecule that "describes" the proteins of an organism.

Other definitions of living can include: reacting to impulses or changing in time.

These two things molecules do, so in this definition proteins and in extent molecules are living. Mind that these definitions enlarge the amount of living sub- and objects, so better don't use them!

Answer 4

1.No, not  yet!

2. Only if you consider a  system  which is made of  more protein than cells. For example, many animal's circulatory system contains plasma which has quite a bit of protein and contains cells, like blood cells.  You could potentially say  plasma( protein), contains cells, but this is really pushing it.

Only if the main constituent of plasma is protein, then you have chance of escaping the scientific community, specialty the  stubborn and retentive ones....:)) Or, you choose to use different application of the word "contain" in Eng. language.

Otherwise, proteins  are mainly  produced by your cells and are in, on, around and out side of cell.

3. As far as oil goes, not Biologically  speaking!

May Love enlighten the imperfect ones!!??  ...SHHH