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Hi fizhburn,
Yes, the issue is clouded by what we are used to as "life." Prions are replicating folding patterns, but we don't call them alive. I agree with you that we are going to have to treat it like the Sorites paradox and just decide to draw a line.
However, a big difference happens when it gets to the point of having an isolated coding for genotype as we now see in DNA. This means you can change the plans without having to rip out the load bearing wall that the plans are written on.
Permalink Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:53:00 UTC | #203669