Introduction
The field of science has been developing for hundreds of years, with scientists making new revelations about living and nonliving organisms. To understand and distinguish between living and nonliving organisms, scientists have developed a set of criteria to gain insights about each.
Criteria of Life to Study
Among the two most well-known and evident criteria that can help distinguish between the two are a response to stimuli and reproduction. While criteria for differentiating between living and nonliving organisms can seem obvious, they are often multifaceted and flexible and can be adjusted depending on scientific discoveries. Although reproduction and response to stimuli can be seen as intrinsic characteristics of living organisms, they are not exclusive to them. For example, when discussing reproduction, it is obvious that microbes, animals, and humans are capable of reproducing and are part of a group of living organisms. Meanwhile, nonliving organisms, such as crystals, can reproduce in a way similar to their living counterparts.
As for the response to stimuli, it can be argued that nonliving organisms cannot express reactions to outside forces. However, while living organisms can respond to stimuli like light, nonliving organisms have a more complex reaction. Thus, the criteria used to assess two types of organisms are multifaceted.
Relevance of Life Criteria to Personal and Professional Life
I look forward to studying these life criteria since they are relevant to me both professionally and personally. In terms of professional relevance, I am interested in biology and medicine, where the intricacies of living and nonliving organisms are essential to understanding. As for personal relevance, these criteria allow me to grasp the nature of life and its boundaries, which is crucial.
Experiment: Asking Others About Living and Nonliving Things
To understand the intricacies of two types of organisms and ask for reflections from others, I experimented when I asked three people to explain why a dog is a living thing and a doughnut is not. I received different responses, which allowed me to understand that the criteria for defining living organisms are not always clear and differ based on individual perceptions.
For example, one person’s response was based on the criteria of reproduction and responses. Meanwhile, the other two people discussed the cells and organs of the dog, which are not present in the doughnut. This experiment taught me that the criteria for defining living organisms are not always easy to apply, and, at times, they vary based on the context and individual interpretation. As a result, such insight highlights the necessity of consistency in science.
Viruses and the Debate on Life
Lastly, whether viruses are living organisms is still highly debatable in the scientific community. While some believe that viruses have all the necessary characteristics to be considered living organisms, others believe it is highly unlikely due to viruses’ reliance on a host cell.
What Giant Viruses Reveal About the Study of Life
Nevertheless, a recent discovery of giant viruses, or Pandoraviruses, has proven that this group of microorganisms is still not thoroughly researched (Yong, 2013). Researchers believe the Earth’s dynasty once spanned far more territory than the three main domains (Yong, 2013). While some cells gave origin to modern life, other cells persisted by becoming parasites and mutating into viruses (Yong, 2013). This example demonstrates how the criteria for defining organisms evolve depending on discoveries. Thus, the study of life is dynamic and requires a flexible approach.
Conclusion
Hence, although the distinctions between living and nonliving things may appear evident, they are frequently complex, adaptable, and subject to change in response to new scientific knowledge. A reaction to stimuli and reproduction are two of the most well-known and prominent factors that can assist in separating the two. While some contend that viruses possess all the traits required to be classified as living things, others contend that this is highly improbable, given that viruses depend on a host cell for survival.
Reference
Yong, E. (2013). Genomes of giant viruses hint at “4th domain” of life. Scientific American. Web.