SCIENCE DELIVERS: Is the stem cell debate over?

HeavyAaron said:
I don't follow your distinction. Could you provide another example of an object which has a life but isn't a life? That sounds like a serious misuse of language.
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Yes. A couple of years ago I rather painfully excised a plantar's wart from the bottom of my foot. It consisted of human cells, and the cells were technically still "living" for a time after I removed it. I don't think you could call it "a life", though.

Similarly, someone could not call an amputated fingertip (for instance) "a life", although the tissue continues to live for a short period following amputation.
 
Joshua Korosi said:
Yes. A couple of years ago I rather painfully excised a plantar's wart from the bottom of my foot. It consisted of human cells, and the cells were technically still "living" for a time after I removed it. I don't think you could call it "a life", though.

Similarly, someone could not call an amputated fingertip (for instance) "a life", although the tissue continues to live for a short period following amputation.
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Neither of those examples are organisms. They are living cells, but I don't think you could say they have a life. But if you want to say that they have a life, I guess I won't stop you.

Aaron
 
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