Imagine that in 2020 you are the top biologist at a research station studying biodiversity in Costa Rica. A young scientist brings you a sample from a previously unexplored site. She asks you to look at the sample and determine whether it indeed contains microscopic, living organisms. As you begin your investigations, you must first decide what characteristics distinguish life from nonlife. How would you differentiate a living organism from nonliving matter (including viruses and prions)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of Imagine that in 2020 you are the top biologist at a research station studying biodiversity in Costa Rica. A young scientist brings you a sample from a previously unexplored site. She asks you to look at the sample and determine whether it indeed contains microscopic, living organisms. As you begin your investigations, you must first decide what characteristics distinguish life from nonlife. How would you differentiate a living organism from nonliving matter (including viruses and prions)?

Imagine That in 2020 You Are the Top Biologist at a Research