What defines life?

Answer 1

The definition of life is currently under a great deal of scrutiny. At the moment biologists don't have a singular definition that doesn't cause problems. For example "All life reproduces" does not work, technically fire reproduces and many things that are otherwise "alive" cannot reproduce, mules for example, or honeybees or viruses. One definition that seems to work is a life form "Uses internal, energy driven, processes to prevent entropic equilibrium". This definitions uses the second law of thermodynamics, "All matter and energy moves toward equilibrium". Because of entropy everything will eventually become equally spread out, not interacting with anything else and of equal warmth. Life forms prevent the effects of energy to sustain themselves. While your body is alive it fights the bacteria trying to eat it and rebuilds many kinds of damage it sustains. When you die you no longer fight against entropy and your body is taken apart by bacteria. This is not the most widely accepted definition because there currently is not one.

Answer 2

Life is a category of matter defined by abilities such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, response and adaptation to the external environment, and in some cases, such as in humans, intelligence, abstraction, and culture that are characteristics of living organisms and not of inanimate objects and dead organisms. Life is basically governed by the principle of self-movement, whether internal as in the case of plants, or external as in the case of animals.

Answer 3

Life is defined by certain characteristics such as growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, adaptation to the environment, and the ability to maintain homeostasis. These characteristics distinguish living organisms from non-living things.

Answer 4

A self sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution.

Answer 5

The biological definition of energy is an element which is stored in the biomolecules by the cells. This is released when molecules are oxidized.

Answer 6

Life is a group of physical entities capable of metabolism, reproduction, growth, adaptability to the environment, and response to stimuli.