Protobiont (Greek: pr\u00f3tos \u2014 first, primary and bios \u2014 life) means a
primary living structure. What is it that differentiates living organisms from
non-living matter? This is a basic issue of biology closely linked to the
problem of unity and differences between living and non-living nature.
The unity is exemplified by the fact that both forms of matter are built
up from chemical elements of an identical molecular, atomic and nuclear\u0002electronic structure. They obey the same mechanical, physical and
chemical laws. This is an undisputed proof in favour of the materialistic
concept of life as a form of existence of matter and excludes whatever
interference of non-materialistic or spiritual forces in its origination. At
present 92 chemical elements are known in free state and with the ones
resulting from the nuclear reactions they amount to 111.
The differences between the two forms of matter are substantial but
sometimes hardly discernible because of their common material structure.
That is why only the most typical features of living nature differing from the
non-living one will be taken into consideration.
The chemical elements from which living nature is built are connected
between themselves in such a way as to form organic compounds of high
molecular weight, non-existing in non-living matter. These are mainly
proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids and enzymes (biocatalysts).
Enzymes take part in almost all life processes.
Metabolism in living systems is accompanied not only with the uptake
or releasing of energy, but also by synthesis of organic compounds
necessary for their growth and development. It is effectuated in a biological
way by specific mechanisms and reactions. Even its temporary cessation
leads to their death which is not found in non-living nature.
Reproduction of living organisms from their likes is carried out by
complex biological mechanisms, modes and forms non-existent in non\u0002living nature. They were formed as a result from a long chemical and
biological evolution.
Irritability in living organisms is a specific quality of theirs which is
designed to respond to outside and internal stimuli in a definite way \u2014
contraction, shifting, hiding, etc. It is more strongly developed in the animal
kingdom but is also found in plants. It is sufficient only to touch the shy
plant Mimosa pudica, and it will immediately and graciously react by closing
its leaves.
Irritability in living organisms is closely linked to their adaptability in the
struggle for survival. Most often it is called \u201cpurposefulness\u201d thus a certain
presence of the \u201csupernatural\u201d principle being imposed. In my opinion this
trait of life is a specific, more superior form of organization of matter just like
the feelings, emotions and mental activity that have become the
characteristics of man.
Other differences between living and non-living nature can also be
pointed out which for brevity will be omitted. Certain authors strive to prove
that the characteristics above are even valid for both forms of the existence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Protobiont (Greek: pr\u00f3tos \u2014 first, primary and bios \u2014 life) means aprimary living structure. What is it that differentiates living organisms fromnon-living matter? This is a basic issue of biology closely linked to theproblem of unity and differences between living and non-living nature.The unity is exemplified by the fact that both forms of matter are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=331"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":332,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331\/revisions\/332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cellandcelldivision.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}