Talk:Precambrian/Life origins

Consideration on certain notion of life ( Faustino Núñez Hernández )
--Faustnh 08:30, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

( I did this proposal on Wikipedia's Article on Life, on Discussion section )

Life can be understood as processes of formation of groups or sets, and different succesive layers or levels of such groups or sets :

> Atoms layer. Atoms are necessary for life, but not sufficent. Sole atoms are not living beings.

> The layer of groups or sets of atoms, in the form of molecules. Molecules are also necessary for life, but not sufficient. Sole molecules are not living beings.

> The layer or level of groups or sets of molecules, in the form of molecular or chemical reaction. Dynamic interactions or reactions among molecules, are also necessary for life , but not sufficient. Sole molecular or chemical reactions are not biological processes.

> The layer or level of groups or sets of molecular or chemical reactions, in the form of interactions or interdependences , among molecular interactions or reactions themselves. That is, there are different and separated molecular or chemical reactions , and these reactions , in turn , interact among them and influence each other , in a sort of inputs \ outputs trade chain. It's necessary for life, but not sufficient : the fact of these reactions of reactions ( or " hyper-reactions " ) of molecules does not constitute by itself a biological process. ( For example, existence of herbivorous depends on existence of plants ; existence of carnivorous depends on existence of herbivorous ; existence of many microorganisms depends on existence of carnivorous , as well as existence of herbivorous and plants ; and the existence of plants greatly depends on existence of those microorganisms ; but microorganisms , plants , herbivorous and carnivorous do not constitute together a living individual ).

> The specific layer of life : life emerges when a closed, circular or cyclical set or system of interdependent and interacting molecular or chemical reactions , reaches by itself , or as an own endogenous result , a state of having own delimitation or demarcation ( as if the system of reactions tried to " protect " , " separate " or " isolate " itself from the environment ) and the subsequent state of having cohesion , durability and persistence.

When we have several individualized autonomous living organisms, they start to interact among them again. And the pattern starts to repeat. So it seems as if we could distinguish or consider three main general recurrent phases :

> 1º ) The phase of originary formation of interactions, interrelations or interdependences , among differentiated individuals.

> 2º ) The phase of consolidation of those interactions, interrelations or interdependences , and the subsequent formation of a new single individual or hyper-individual.

> 3º ) The phase of (new hyper-)individuals differentiation, diversification or specialization , so the first phase can take place again ( we could include or classify reproduction and evolution here ).

Regards.

( Posted on my blog ).