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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...
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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.

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

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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)
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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.

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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.