I get the distinct impression that in the nailing down of a definition for life we would be in the same trap we encounter with the definition of transitional.Would it be not more conducive to an investigation of the phenomena of life to simply be able to take what we know about physical chemistry and the interplay of forces at that level and show how they can produce any of the processes that we
can consider necessary for life.We understand the way in which ATP,for instance,performs its work[At least in a basic way]or how hemoglobin in the blood transports oxygen to tissues and uptakes carbon dioxide for disposal by the lungs.
It is a long haul to being able to explain great details since life is complex but that is not to say that we are not at least defining the borders enough to glimpse a vague outline..With time the shadows gradually give way to the illumination provided by scientific investigation.But the beauty of it that always will stay with me is that for every question we answer we garner many more questions each of which shows an new piece of a puzzle,often which delight us most when they
are not what we expect.
We know that elements have certain properties on their own. We have two poisons combined which we cannot live without in salt.Water is the comination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom and look at the amazing properties displayed by it.who can look at the periodic table and guess at what the outcome of combining any of just 2 of them much less 3 or dozens.And then to have them change configuration from one location to another so that they do not repeat themselves over and over like water or salt. Imagine the possibilities such as nerves transmitting electrical impulses as a result of the potential difference between just 2 elements, potassium and sodium.All your thoughts, every beat of your heart, every movement of your body comes down to this.
The devil is in the details.
'Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts.'
(Daniel Patrick Moynihan)
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