Q for ‘Pro-Lifers’: How many kids have you ADOPTED from

[jeff47]

178. Biologists have given up on the question "What is alive?"

First, it was animals. They ran around and were obviously alive.

Then plants. They grew and died, so obviously alive.

Then we discovered bacteria. Obviously alive.

At that point, something was defined to be alive if it could self-replicate.

Then we discovered viruses....well they can't reproduce on their own, but they sure do behave like they're alive. So we'll call them alive too. The definition was changed to "must have DNA and replicate somehow".

Then we discovered RNA viruses....ok, we'll change the definition to "Must have nucleotides and replicate somehow"

Then we discovered Prions. Well crap. Ok, now must replicate somehow.

Then our Chemist friends pointed out how they can dump the appropriate chemicals into a test tube and create structures that replicate.

So now biologists don't define what is "alive".