What is life?" The question has been asked innumerable times but has been answered to the satisfaction of few. Science is based on the experience that nature gives intelligent answers to intelligent questions. To senseless questions, nature gives senseless answers - or no answers at all. If nature has never provided an answer to this question, perhaps something is wrong with the question.
             The question is wrong indeed. It has no sense, for life in itself does not exist. No one has seen or measured life. Life is always linked to material systems; what man sees and measures are living systems of matter. Life is not a thing to be studied; rather, "being alive" is a quality of some physical systems.
             A look at the living world reveals an incredible variety of shapes, sizes, forms, and colors. There seems to be an infinite variability among living systems. How can man approach such complexity? How can he ask intelligent questions?
             One key to an intelligent approach may be the simple fact that things can be put together in two different ways: randomly or meaningfully. Things put together in random fashion form a senseless heap. Nine persons selected at random and placed together probably will form nothing more than a slightly puzzled collection of nine individuals. Nine persons selected and combined in a meaningful fashion may form a championship baseball team. The whole in this case is more than the sum of its parts - it is what is called organization.
             If an atomic nucleus is combined with electrons, an atom is formed. This atom is something entirely new, quite different from electrons or nuclei alone. When atoms are combined, molecules are formed. Again, a new thing is generated with strikingly different qualities. Smaller molecules - say, amino acids - may be combined to form a "macromolecule" - perhaps a protein. This macromolecule has a number of amazing qualities. It demonstrates self-organization - the ability to create more com...