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The debate in the United Kingdom about the disposal of frozen embryos
raises once again two questions - What is Life? What is the Origin of
Life? These embryos in their present frozen state are not alive and
therefore do not possess life. Only if they are implanted do they have the
potential of developing into a living human being, who has life.

In addition, a potato-size rock fragment with an age of four billion
years, found in Antarctica twelve years ago, and identified as originating
on Mars, contains microscopic structures, suggesting primitive life-forms.
[See GSA TODAY,July 1997,p.1] Are they? Just what is life?

In 1993, I organized at the biennial International Society of History,
Philosophy, and Social Studies on Biology (ISHPSSB) conference at Brandeis
University, Waltham, Massachusetts, a symposium entitled - WHAT IS LIFE?
DEFINE LIFE, as a preliminary step in yet another attempt to examine the
beginnings or origin of life. In preparation, definitions from several
dictionaries were compiled. Most were considered useless. A multitude of
books and articles were searched and a list of 22 definitions were
assembled. An article by J.B.S. Haldane, published in 1947 entitled "What
is Life?" opened with the statement 'I am not going to answer the question
- ' but he did include a critical aspect incorporated in the definition
below. The ISHPSSB membership was invited through the NEWLETTER to submit
definitions of less than 150 words. The submissions were disappointingly
few, and some so long and complex, using technical language, I considered
them incomprehensible.

Before the conference, the definitions from dictionaries, books, articles,
and personal submissions were distributed to the contributors, and at the
conference. At the session after a preliminary statement by the organizer,
the discussion was vigorous, dominated by three or four individuals. Every
individual in the audience was asked to make a statement, and a couple
were most helpful; reluctance to speak by some individuals at a group
meeting is a common characteristic. One participant was most verbose until
the organizer intervened and terminated his interjections, as he seemed
determined defining LIFE should be avoided. Two concepts did emerge but
not with unanimous agreement. 1) A free living single cell, such as an
amoeba, is alive and therefore exhibits life. 2) A virus which can exist
only within another organism, is not alive so does not exhibit life.

Subsequent to the meeting, on the basis of the compiled definitions and
the meeting discussion, the following definition of LIFE was composed.
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LIFE is a succession of energy-producing ELECTRO-CHEMICAL PROCESSES by a
naturally occurring, simple or complex organism composed of a combination
of molecules, each consisting or systematically arranged carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen atoms, and a few other elements, forming cells, which consume
'food' and produce 'waste', both consisting of solid, aqueous, and gaseous
matter; the process is called METABOLISM; the organism is capable of
living within its niche or habitat with minimal dependency on other
organisms; energy use is manifest by growth with size limits for most;
self-healing; possibly movement; self-replication with each offspring
slightly different; irritability; capable of modifying their living
environment, both beneficially and detrimentally; with eventual
termination of energy production, or death. Exceptions are egg, sperm,
spore, seed, and virus, which do not consume food and produce waste; the
first four are replication structures, and the fifth has premature
life-terminating capabilities. (about 146 words) Revised 97-10-20.
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Does this definition have any official status such as endorsement by a
professional scientific, philosophical, legal, government, or other
organization? No! The purpose for publishing is to draw attention to the
fact that a rational discussion about the beginnings or origin of LIFE,
demands that a comprehensive definition of LIFE is a prerequisite. This
should also hold for the debate about those frozen human embryos, and
microscopic structures in a piece of rock which is presumed to have come
from Mars. Otherwise the only fruits of the debate are an increase in the
carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere.

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The following summarizes "letters-to-editor" and comments of
 correspondents.

1. One individual attempted to 'hi-jack' for his own political agenda.
2. A full page diatribe filled with obfuscation, sarcasm, ridicule, etc.
My response was request the writer to provide his definition of LIFE. No
response.
3. The definition of a second year biology student in high-tech language
" -- perpetuating a system of linked organic reaction catalysed -- ".
A chemistry professor responded to this "Why not just say Life is organic
chemistry?"
4. A biologist - Life is sensing, experience, wonderment, beauty, etc. My
response was - Do these address the origin of LIFE? No response.
5. A correspondent observed that my definition does not cover tape
worms. I asked if this was sufficient to invalidate my definition? No
response.
6. A Presbyterian minister - "Life is a sexually transmitted disease that
is always terminal".
7. R.C. priest(retired) - "I am overwhelmed by your all encompassing
definition. I will ponder over it for a bit ---". Several months later
and he is still pondering.

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This definition now allows the question - WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WHEN LIFE
ORIGINATED? There is also the question - WHERE did LIFE originate? A
common tendency is -- OUT THERE, and then transported to Earth!! That
merely begs the question about the origin of LIFE. I believe that LIFE
originated here - on Earth, and not elsewhere. The American
astrophysicist, Harlow Shapley described Earth as a grain of sand, with a
whiff of atmosphere, a film of water, and a smear of biology, plodding its
way around the sun with monotonous regularity. Another question is WHEN
did LIFE originate? The oldest rocks on earth with fossils have a date of
about 3.7 billions of years.

Then there is the question - did LIFE originate by Chance or Design? A
basic assumption of the entire spectrum of scientific research is to
establish order, or system, or a classification from which predictions can
be made. In his book The Blind Watchmaker, Richard Dawkins wrote on the
final page (p.317) "The true explanation for the existence of life must
embody the very antithesis of chance". Allow me to state in the positive -
the existence of life must embody design!