Originally Posted by RSK
I COMPLETELY 100% AGREE WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT: Believe it or not, but the above statement reinforces (to some extent) my entire point of what constitutes LIFE, and what doesn't.
Okay, so a quote from the above passage:
"It would be relatively straightforward to offer a practical set of guidelines if one's only concern were life on Earth as we know it"
And guess what, this 'guidline' DOES exist, check it out here:
[url]http://www.resa.net/nasa/biology_systematics.htm[/url]
Now, let's move on to the NEXT part:
"but as soon as one considers questions about life's origins on Earth, or the possibility of extraterrestrial life, or the concept of artificial life, it becomes clear that the question is fundamentally difficult and comparable in many respects to the problem of defining intelligence."
lets tackle the FIRST one: origins of life
Me, You, a Dog, a Plant, a fungus, spider or even a Bacteria, are ALL composed of DNA. And this DNA is made up of FOUR 'bases' (units)
labeled, G, T, A, and C.
the SAME FOUR 'bases' are found in ALL of the above living things...
what makes a plant a plant? what makes a human a human? what makes a fungus a fungus? and so on............?
the answer: Well, fundamentally, the answer is SIMPLE: the 'order' of HOW these four bases are 'arranged' in sequene to make a DNA molecule...
...can you believe that! AMAZING!!!!!!!!
i think i just blew a load in my pants!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what is the FUNCTION of dna? well, it is to make 'proteins'. and it's the type of proteins we have, that make us who we are and how our bodies develop!
okay, are you still with me?
So, scientist (Urey and i forget the other dudes name), hypothesized the 'ORIGIN of LIFE'........
.......according to geological studies, primitive Earth consisted of HARSH CONDITIONS! Thunder and lightening, a reduced enviornment (no oxygen), ammonia and other organic compounds present.........
what the dudes did, was 'emu;ate' early earth in a laboratory. they got a huge flask, and put ammonia, organic substances, and other conditions, and they they zapped electricity to emulate the lightening..........
..........they collected the products in ANOTHER smaller flask, and GUESS WHAT THEY COLLECTED...........???????????????
various amino acids (which make up proteins)...
...a coincidence?
so, back to the origonal question.....of course life couldn't be defined using TODAYS model definition, because a 'group' or 'lump' of amino acids just don't fit into the definition.........
........having said that, it is theorized that this 'soup' of amino acids was the starting point, in which ALL LIFE has arison....through hundreds of millions of years of coagulations, and the creation of membranes, and cells, and more complex entities, to the point where they were like 'LIVING BATTERIES', where they continously 'ticked'.........up to where we are today...........
so, i hope this answers THAT question..........
lets take a closer look at the NEXT: possibility of E.T.
okay, we HAVE to agree, this is a DIFFERENT topic altogether... because it hasn't been PROVEN yet...
and the third (which is where you seem to be an expert in): AI
ok, teach me, i don't know too much about AI. How REAL is it? should i feel threatened? LOL
i see where, FOR YOU, the relation of Intelligence and LIFE draws the fine, yet concrete line of your reasons for thought...
...in terms of 'intelligence', bacteria would be DEAD. they have none. I mean, they don't think! THEY DO RESPOND TO STIMULI!!!!! but they have no nervous system, and they cannot compute things, they are like batteries, but MORE, MUCH MORE......
...this is why i can't make the relation between intelligence and LIFE...
...it's too much of a leap for me...
...do you see my point?