Hacker News Reader

Lots of types of life give up on homeostasis along particular dimensions because the environment is doing it well enough. Viruses do reproduce.

If you say "well not by themselves" neither do humans.

View on HN

No life exists "by themselves". Self-replication means using only its own DNA and not mangling with other's. Virii are not only parasites but dead matter (a ribonucl molecule surrounded by proteins that happens to stick to other cells, like dirt on the skin). Gut microbioma is parasite.

There is another life property that this object does not fulfill and is called Teleonomia, that is governed by an ultimate goal.

> that is governed by an ultimate goal.

I have bad news for you. Again, it's humans.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com