BIOLOGY 207 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Thermodynamics, Liposome, List Of Charmed Characters
Document Summary
Google and most scientists don"t have a very good definition for the minimal unit of life, right that"s. The diversity of life is what makes its definition elusive. Many definitions satisfy biologists, chemists, physicists & philosophers. Chemists definition of a living cell typically revolves around molecular composition, making sure that you do have a minimal parts list. Physicist may look at it from a thermodynamic perspective, if you have a system that can move away from equilibrium, using energy, then that would be considered living. Biologist would strongly favor definition that involves the concept of. Darwinian evolution you"re not living unless you can evolve. One that is sort of transcendental meaning that there"s some sort of essence to a cell that as living versus something that is non living inanimate. Definitions provide context for the construction of a minimal cell. Capturing life in a parts list is not enough. We teach a lot about eukaryotic cell biology and not prokaryotic.
