What is life?

I was following a post on the origins of life and began thinking about that age-old question, what is life? Koshland gave us the "P(rogram), I(mprovisation), C(ompartmentalization), E(nergy), R(egeneration), A(daptability), S(eclusion)" definition. Has anyone developed a simpler one? Discussions on the topic would be easier if we had an accurate, simpler definition.

It would be helpful if you expanded on the meaning of each of P.I.C.E.R.A.S.Is this to go in "origin of life" or where?

He called them the seven pillars of life. Here is basically what they are;
1. Program - Life has some kind of organized plan to operate through such as the nucleic acid and amino acid system.
2. Improvization - A living thing can change its plan in response to its environment.
3. Compartmentalization - A living thing must have separated spaces for necessary reactions to prevent other ingredients from messing up the reactions.
4. Energy - Living things require energy.
5. Regeneration - Living things must have a system to repair or restore damaged or lost components or processes.
6. Adaptability - A living thing responses to changes, dangers, and needs.
7. Seclusion - Chemical pathways must be separated.Yes, I think Origin of Life would be an appropriate category.

Thread copied to the What is life? thread in the Origin of Life forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.