Comment by andsoitis
7 days ago
> they are alive. Not in a biological sense, but why should that be the constraint?
Because being alive is THE defining characteristic of biology.
Biology is defined by its focus on the properties that distinguish living things from nonliving matter.
What do you think living things are made of other than molecules a d electrical signals?
> What do you think living things are made of other than molecules a d electrical signals?
A cell is the smallest structure that can carry out life functions. Some organisms have one cell, while others have many cells working together. Inside cells are tiny parts (organelles) that perform jobs such as making energy and building proteins.
Cells themselves are built from important biological molecules: water, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and DNA. Most living things are made mainly from a few chemical elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and smaller amounts of phosporus, sulfur, etc.
Living things are not made of electricity, but is instead energy used by living things. The electrical activity comes from movement of ions like sodium and potassium inside cells.
Yes so that's the point, its a natural physical system with molecules and reactions and electrical signals etc etc. So what is this "special" thing in it that a computer or other physical system cannot do, that was my point of asking.