Chapter 1, Problem 1RQ

Why is life difficult to define?

Summary Introduction

To determine: The reason for the difficulty in defining life.

Introduction: Life is a characteristic that differentiates living and non-living. All the common characteristics that lie in ancestors, past and present are a part of the concept of life.

Explanation of Solution

The general features of life include chemical uniqueness, reproduction, complexity and hierarchical organization, possession of genetic program, metabolism, development, movement, and environmental interactions. These factors differentiate the living and non-living characteristics and define life. All the characters still have some exceptions, which makes it difficult to define. Example-Body movement is the characteristics of a living thing, but plants do not move, and still, they are living.