Why can't fire be living?

Question

I know fire isn't living... But why EXACTLY is fire NOT living?

It's for a project.

Answer 1

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9a.html

"What is Life?

Probably the best place to begin our discussion of the Earth’s biogeography is to answer the following question. What is life? While the reply to this question may appear simple, scientists have actually spent considerable time pondering this problem. In fact, many scientists would suggest that we still do not have a clear definitive answer to this question. Part of this problem is related to the existence of viruses and other forms of microscopic things. Some scientists define viruses as very complex organic molecules, while others suggest they are the simplest form of life.

In a recent issue of the journal Science (March 22, 2002), molecular biologist Daniel E. Koshland Jr. was asked to write a special essay where he would set out to define life. In this article, he suggested that something could be considered “alive” if it meets the following seven conditions.

(1). Living things must have a program to make copies of themselves from generation to generation. This program would describe both the parts that make up the organisms and the processes that occur between the various parts. These processes are of course the metabolic reactions that take place in a living thing allowing it to function over time. In most living systems, the program of life is encoded in DNA.

(2). Life adapts and evolves in step with external changes in the environment. This process is directly connected to life’s program through mutation and natural selection. This condition allows life-forms to be optimized for gradual changes in the environment.

(3). Organisms tend to be complex, highly organized, and most importantly have compartmentalized structures. Chemicals found within their bodies are synthesized through metabolic processes into structures that have specific purposes. Cells and their various organelles are examples of such structures. Cells are also the basic functioning unit of life. In multi-cellular organisms, cells are often organized into organs to create higher levels of complexity and function.

(4). Living things have the ability to take energy from their environment and change it from one form to another. This energy is usually used to facilitate their growth and reproduction. We call the process that allows for this facilitation metabolism.

(5). Organisms have regeneration systems that replace parts of themselves that are subject to wear and tear. This regeneration can be partial or it can involve the complete replacement of the organism. Complete replacement is necessary because partial replacements cannot stop the unavoidable decline in the functioning state of the entire living system over time. In other words, all organisms degrade into a final non-functioning state we call death.

(6). Living creatures respond to environmental stimuli through feedback mechanisms. Cues from the environment can cause organisms to react through behavior, metabolism, and physiological change. Further, responses to stimuli generally act to increase a creature’s chance for day-to-day survival.

(7). Organisms are able to maintain numerous metabolic reactions even in a single instance in time. Living things also keep each of these reactions separated from each other."

Good luck on your project!

Answer 2

A Living flame gas fire has artificial coals which produce an effect that looks like a coal fire when lit. If you have a gas fire with a clay element that is divided into little squares then it is not a living flame fire. Yellow flames indicate incomplete gas burning which can cause carbon monoxide to accumulate. If the element is just glowing more orange than normal then there is probably nothing to worry about - you need to be concerned about large yellow flames. It is the landlord's responsibility to have the fire maintained and serviced not yours, so you should speak to the landlord about the fire if you have any concerns, he should have given you a copy of the gas safe certificate.

Answer 3

Because humans have constructed a specific checklist of things that determine the quality "alive."

This sounds like a pretty cool assignment.

I want you to find this checklist, but I don't want to give it to you.

This should help you find it:

Scientists have argued about whether or not viruses are alive. Find out why viruses are alive or not alive... and then you'll know *all* the reasons why fire is not alive.

If this search leads you to the answer to your question, it'd be sweet if you gave credit to Tinkerbell on Yahoo Answers, who asked you to think about viruses. :) Good teachers would appreciate the citation.

Answer 4

My first thought was that fire can't be living because it is a chemical reaction... then again perhaps we are also complex chemical reactions. interesting question!

If these are the criteria for life:
It must respire
It must digest and excrete
It most reproduce (produce young)

Then you could argue that fire does meet all three.

Answer 5

The criteria for a living thing are:

It must respire
It must digest and excrete
It most reproduce (produce young)

Answer 6

Fire is a product( of friction, chemical reaction etc.) it has no cellular structure, no genetic structure, no organic structure.

Answer 7

interesting question .
i would say fire isnt life because fire does not have dna. yets i doubt that this definition is correct since dead plants still have dna ...

Answer 8

hi,

if fire is living we are all gonna die because of the hot no one will ever survive to live in the world

Answer 9

refer to the 'mrs.gren' keyword.

Movement
Respiration
Sound
Growth
Recreation
Excretion
Nutrition

fire doesnt grow or respire.

and if you pick this answer as the one to use then i have just done your project for you.

if your too lazy to do anything else then hesitate to ask

Answer 10

Its life questioner
but not as we know it