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Towards a General Definition of Life
Marko Vitas1, Andrej Dobovišek2,3
1, Laze pri Borovnici 38, 1353 Borovnica, Slovenia. vitas.marko83@gmail.com.
Summary
This study proposes a new definition of life, expanding on NASA's concept to include thermodynamics and information flow. The revised definition is general, encompassing various evolutionary paths and system types for origins of life research.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Origin of Life Research
- Astrobiology
Background:
- NASA's working definition of life as a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution.
- Existing definitions may not encompass all potential life forms or evolutionary pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new, comprehensive definition of life.
- To incorporate thermodynamic principles and information flow into the definition.
- To create a definition applicable to diverse origins of life scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Modification and extension of NASA's definition of life.
- Inclusion of thermodynamic far-from-equilibrium system concepts.
- Consideration of information flow from environment to living systems.
- Hypothesizing autocatalytic systems preceding genetic heredity.
Main Results:
- A new definition of life is formulated.
- The definition is independent of specific evolutionary mechanisms (e.g., Lamarckian, Darwinian).
- The definition applies to both individual metabolic and collective ecological networks.
- The proposed definition is minimal and general.
Conclusions:
- The new definition offers a broader perspective on life.
- It is relevant for astrobiology, synthetic biology, and artificial life research.
- Potential implications extend to cognitive and computer sciences.
Keywords:
Chemical evolutionDarwinian evolutionDefinition of lifeFar from equilibrium systemsLamarckOrigins of lifeMore Related Videos
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