DNA / Information

Originally posted by Kepler
Is this in the same sense that some people are alive and some aren't?

Sure.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
would you consider sperm as a living system?

Sperm is produced as part of a living system obviously. However, even though it is alive it has no way of reproducing itself and will die rather quickly. So I doubt you could accurately say it is a living system itself.

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
Some trees are alive and some are not alive.

The Instructor

What do you mean some trees are alive and some not? If you see a dead tree in the woods, it is obviously at the end of its life cycle but things have a habit of proving you wrong. Some trees grow new branches and start over after looking like it was dead. So in a lot of cases you may just assume the tree is dead and later it proves you wrong.

Originally posted by sonhouse
What do you mean some trees are alive and some not? If you see a dead tree in the woods, it is obviously at the end of its life cycle but things have a habit of proving you wrong. Some trees grow new branches and start over after looking like it was dead. So in a lot of cases you may just assume the tree is dead and later it proves you wrong.

Not likely if it is struck by lighting and dies.

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
Sperm is produced as part of a living system obviously. However, even though it is alive it has no way of reproducing itself and will die rather quickly. So I doubt you could accurately say it is a living system itself.

The Instructor

so a sperm is part of a living system but not an actual living system itself.

when a sperm combines with an egg does it become a living system? or is it still just part of a living system?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
so a sperm is part of a living system but not an actual living system itself.

when a sperm combines with an egg does it become a living system? or is it still just part of a living system?

It is my personal opinion that it does become a living system, even though a very dependant living system. However, even after birth the baby is still a dependant living system, but just not as dependent as originally.

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
It is my personal opinion that it does become a living system, even though a very dependant living system. However, even after birth the baby is still a dependant living system, but just not as dependent as originally.

The Instructor

I am probably jumping on Stellspalfie's train of though here, but if sperm (and presumably eggs) are not living systems, they must just be collections of organic chemicals (although highly ordered) and you seem to be agreeing that they do come together to become a living system.

So maybe you need to rethink your "No" answer to the question originally posted by wolfgang59 on the previous page:
"Do you believe that that organic chemicals can join together on their own to create living systems?"

[edit]
Although thinking about it, I suspect you will say that they are not doing it "on their own", I.e. that outside intervention, presumably from God, is required to add an ineffable something.

If this is your argument then it would sound like special pleading to me. What is this extra requirement and why is it needed? Is it required of every animal, plant and bacteria?
[/edit]

--- Penguin.

Originally posted by Penguin
I am probably jumping on Stellspalfie's train of though here, but if sperm (and presumably eggs) are not living systems, they must just be collections of organic chemicals (although highly ordered) and you seem to be agreeing that they do come together to become a living system.

So maybe you need to rethink your "No" answer to the question originally post s it needed? Is it required of every animal, plant and bacteria?
[/edit]

--- Penguin.

Well it depends on how you want to define a living system. I am looking at it, as the sperm and egg comes from a living system. So the sperm is a part of a living system, just like the arm is a part of a living system. However, if you wish to define the arm as a living system, then that would change everything I just said.

The sperm and egg of humans need help to come together to form a living system. That is what I mean that they do not form living systems on their own. That is just my opinion and I am not saying you must agree with it.

Let me make it clear that I am not saying that the sperm or the egg are not living things, but I am merely distinguishing between the parts and whole living system. The human is a living system consisting of the sum of its parts. However, a human does not necessarily seize to be a living system by a loss of a part.

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
Well it depends on how you want to define a living system. I am looking at it, as the sperm and egg comes from a living system. So the sperm is a part of a living system, just like the arm is a part of a living system. However, if you wish to define the arm as a living system, then that would change everything I just said.

The sperm and egg of humans ...[text shortened]... a human does not necessarily seize to be a living system by a loss of a part.

The Instructor

so at what point to you consider the fertilized egg has stopped being part of something else's living system and become its own living system?

do you think a collection of chemicals needs to be able to reproduce to be considered alive?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
so at what point to you consider the fertilized egg has stopped being part of something else's living system and become its own living system?

do you think a collection of chemicals needs to be able to reproduce to be considered alive?

1. Whe the egg becomes fertilized it becomes a living organism.

2. I have never heard of a collection of chemicals being able to reproduce. Where did you get theat idea?

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
1. Whe the egg becomes fertilized it becomes a living organism.

2. I have never heard of a collection of chemicals being able to reproduce. Where did you get theat idea?

The Instructor

what are you made of rj?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
what are you made of rj?

Body, soul, and spirit.

The Instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
Body, soul, and spirit.

The Instructor

you are made of 'body'???????

are you sure you are not made of chemicals?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
you are made of 'body'???????

are you sure you are not made of chemicals?

If you are referring to the makeup of my body, then the Holy Bible says God made man from the earth elements. These elements can be used to make chemicals in or outside my body.

My body is made of designed molecules and atoms from the elements. Oxygen is the most abundant element by mass and hydrogen is the most abundant by number of atoms in the makup of my body. All organic molecules in my body such as fats, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids (we can't forget DNA) also contain the carbon element, which is the second most abundant element by mass in my body. Nitrogen, Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulfur are elements, called macronutrients, that my body also needs in a significant amounts.

The instructor

Originally posted by RJHinds
If you are referring to the makeup of my body, then the Holy Bible says God made man from the earth elements. These elements can be used to make chemicals in or outside my body.

My body is made of designed molecules and atoms from the elements. Oxygen is the most abundant element by mass and hydrogen is the most abundant by number of atoms in the makup ...[text shortened]... ts, called macronutrients, that my body also needs in a significant amounts.

The instructor

soooooo that would be chemicals then.