Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Characteristics of Life01:23

Characteristics of Life

270.4K
Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, development, interactions, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The field's scope is extensive and divided into several specialized disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology, genetics, and many more. All living things share a few key traits, including cellular organization, heritable genetic material and the ability to adapt/evolve, metabolism to regulate energy needs, the...
270.4K
Life Histories01:29

Life Histories

23.4K
Overview
23.4K
Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

569
Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic...
569
Second Uniqueness Theorem01:16

Second Uniqueness Theorem

2.7K
Consider a region consisting of several individual conductors with a definite charge density in the region between these conductors. The second uniqueness theorem states that if the total charge on each conductor and the charge density in the in-between region are known, then the electric field can be uniquely determined.
In contrast, consider that the electric field is non-unique and apply Gauss's law in divergence form in the region between the conductors and the integral form to the surface...
2.7K
Life Tables01:22

Life Tables

680
A life table is a statistical tool that summarizes the mortality and survival patterns of a population, providing detailed insights into the likelihood of survival or death across different age intervals within a cohort. By organizing data on survival probabilities and mortality rates, life tables offer a clear snapshot of population dynamics over time. They are extensively used in demography, public health, actuarial science, and ecology to analyze life expectancy, design health interventions,...
680
Requirements for Human Life01:26

Requirements for Human Life

14.8K
The Earth and its atmosphere have provided humans with air, water, and food, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Humans also require a specific range of temperature and pressure that the Earth and its atmosphere provides.
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
14.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Redundancy of the genetic code enables translational pausing.

Frontiers in genetics·2014
Same author

Dichotomy in the definition of prescriptive information suggests both prescribed data and prescribed algorithms: biosemiotics applications in genomic systems.

Theoretical biology & medical modelling·2012
Same author

The Universal Plausibility Metric (UPM) & Principle (UPP).

Theoretical biology & medical modelling·2009
Same author

The capabilities of chaos and complexity.

International journal of molecular sciences·2009
Same author

The GS (genetic selection) Principle.

Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)·2009
Same author

Measuring the functional sequence complexity of proteins.

Theoretical biology & medical modelling·2007
Same journal

Correction: Yalçın et al. Impact of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Cardiovascular Risk Scores, Metabolic Parameters, and Laboratory Profiles in Type 2 Diabetes. <i>Life</i> 2025, <i>15</i>, 722.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Correction: Schubert et al. Minimally Invasive Ablation Strategies for Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Ineligible for Surgery. <i>Life</i> 2026, <i>16</i>, 73.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Blood Group Antigen Combinations and COVID-19: Complexity, Associations and Possible Clinical Relevance.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Beyond HPV in Eastern Europe: Genotype Distribution, Molecular Biomarkers, Vaginal Microbiome, and Implications for Cervical Cancer Prevention.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Therapeutic Effects of <i>Scutellaria baicalensis</i> Georgi Extract and Baicalein on Olfactory Dysfunction and Neurobehavioral Alterations in a Methimazole-Induced Injury Model.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

The Effects of Unstable Strength Training on Lower Limb Stability in Adolescent Volleyball Players in China.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
See all related articles
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats
13:38

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

8.6K

Is life unique?

David L Abel1

  • 1Department of ProtoBioCybernetics and ProtoBioSemiotics, Origin of Life Science Foundation, Inc., 113-120 Hedgewood Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA. life@us.net.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 11, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Life is not unique physicochemically, but it is unique due to its formalisms. These characteristics, including Prescriptive Information (PI) and goal-directed behaviors, are not explained by physics or evolution alone.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring &#8211; Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
08:53

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.8K
Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
10:00

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: January 7, 2013

35.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats
13:38

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

8.6K
Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring &#8211; Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
08:53

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.8K
Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
10:00

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: January 7, 2013

35.9K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Systems Biology
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • Physicodynamics and evolution alone do not fully explain the complex characteristics of life.
  • Life exhibits unique formalisms and goal-directed behaviors absent in non-living systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate life from non-living matter by analyzing its unique formal properties.
  • To investigate the role of Prescriptive Information (PI) and formalisms in defining life.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of life's characteristics.
  • Comparison of life's formalisms with principles of physicodynamics and evolution.
  • Examination of concepts like Prescriptive Information (PI), autonomy, and goal-directedness.

Main Results:

  • Life is physicochemically non-unique but formally unique.
  • Life utilizes Prescriptive Information (PI) and digital programming, absent in physicodynamics.
  • Life exhibits autonomy, homeostasis, error correction, and goal pursuit (e.g., survival).

Conclusions:

  • Life's formal properties, including Prescriptive Information (PI), symbol systems, and goal-directedness, distinguish it from non-living matter.
  • These formalisms cannot be generated or explained by physicodynamics or chance and necessity alone.
  • Life represents a distinct category of organization and function beyond physical laws.