Organs are alive because they are made up of multiple bacterias and cells that are also alive. The definition of alive is “still in existence, force, or operation”(according to Merriam- Webster). As long as organs are operating, they will be alive.
This also means that as long as the cells/bacteria are doing their job, they will be alive too. As for organs grown in a lab, they will also be alive by this definition. When we create/culture bacteria in a lab, it is considered alive so why wouldn’t a collection of these bacterias and cells be?
Finally, since the cells in our bodies are regularly replaced, some would argue that we have a new body each week. However, most of these cells are replicas (or pretty close to replicas) of the other cell. So, if the cell is the same, just a newer version, you would still have your same body.
Share this link with your friends.
Notifications
More About the Cooperative
victoria_rosas_0722
February 4, 2021
I agree with the fact that you say that organs are alive. Your definition proves that fact. Organs are alive, like I said in my post, the abundance of cells and bacteria just proves to show that organs are alive. If cells can reproduce, maintain homeostasis, regenerate, develop, and produce energy then they are alive. Cells and bacteria can do all of that. I disagree with your statement, “some would argue you have a new body each week”. Every organ system cell regeneration duration is different, so maybe at the end of the week you may have regenerated some skin cells, but the entire body’s cells would not be regenerated. Some never regenerate.
irosas
February 4, 2021
I can understand your point of view, but I do not think organs are alive personally. While that specific definition of “alive” states that it’s anything in “existence, force or operation”, the definition of “alive”, to me, is completely different and way more complex. If alive was anything in “existence, force, or operation”, our fridges could be considered alive. To me, “alive” means having a conscious and a soul. I can see your point though. Based on the very basic definition of being alive, organs match the description. I do agree with you when you say that we are not a new body every time our cells regenerate. I said the same thing. That is interesting that cells are often replicas of the original, that is very good reasoning as to why we are not in a completely different body every time our body renews our cells.