Definition of Life

[Andrew Wagner]

>>----------------------------------
>>Douglas Adams    <adamsd.cerf.net>
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>>
>>
>
>YOU should know that the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is 
>
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>                        4       4        2222
>                        4       4       2   22
>                        4       4           2
>                        444444444          2
>                                4         2
>                                4        2
>                                4       2
>                                4      222222


Is this coincidence or what?  Douglas, I'm sure you get this all the time.

With all seriousness...
_Biology_ (ed. Peter H. Raven and George B. Johnson, Mosby Year Book 1992)
gives some characteristics to a living organism (P.66-67)
-movement
-sensitivity
-death
-complexity
-cellular organization
-growth and metabolism
-reproduction
-heredity

"All living things on earth are characterized by cellular organization,
growth, reproduction, and heredity.  These characteristics serve to define
the term *life*.  Other properties that are commonly exhibited by living
organisms include movement and sensitivity to stimuli."

Hope this helps...  Additional input, please?
Andy Wagner

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      Perinatal Medicine...Saxophone...and whatever else interests me

                          From the e-mail desk of:
      Andrew F. Wagner                University of Wisconsin-Madison
      afwagner at students.wisc.edu

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