Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Elladan71 t1_jbrnlfg wrote

Reply to comment by dave-the-scientist in I just learned that the known shortest DNA in an “organism” is about 1700 base pairs in a certain virus. Is there a minimum amount of “code” required for an organism (or virus) to function in any capacity? by mcbergstedt

I think you're on the right track, here. A virus needs a cell to function. A bacterium needs a nutrient-rich environment to function. An animal needs gravity oxygen, water, and food. Plants and animals are *environments for other kinds of life, so it's no wonder that the question is difficult to answer. When asked in the other direction, you're confronted with whether the Earth itself is alive.

2