Biologists usually define 'life' as an entity that reproduces, responds to its environment, metabolizes chemicals, consumes energy, and grows.
  • SwampYankee@beehaw.org
    5·
    1 year ago

    TL;DR, they broke apart compounds produced by different processes and performed spectroscopy to determine the constituent molecules. They counted the constituent molecules to determine an “assembly index” and found that compounds produced by biological and technological processes had a characteristically larger number of constituents. The implication is that a certain level of molecular complexity is only produced by living systems.

    • CadeJohnson@slrpnk.net
      1·
      1 year ago

      Now, all they must do is explain “assembly index” instead of explaining “life”; I mean if life is only things that require more than 15 “steps” and I create some life with “have sex”, well . . .