# Does a beating heart signify life exists in a human? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538 "2010-05-06T18:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/81 "2010-05-07T01:44:45Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > **Clu-Me-In** , seriously, try to create a full definition of life. That was the question my 7th grade Biology teacher asked us the very first day of school. It’s a bitch, isn’t it? That’s easy Life, noun 1 A defunct magazine published by TimeLife 2 A breakfast cereal available in plain and cinnamon varieties 3 A boardgame with little cars ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/82 "2010-05-07T01:48:20Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > When a pregnancy occurs, can a beating heart be detected? > > If a beating heart is detected in a human being, does that mean that human being is alive? Is there an echo in here? A human being with a beating heart is a living organism. Is a human being with a beating heart and zero brain activity still a living human? That is not a scientific question. Is an embryo with a beating heart a living human? That is not a scientific question. And there are lots of things that are well and truly alive that do not have a beating heart. So what is the question, really? About what defines life? What defines human life? What defines the beginning of human life? What defines the end of human life? Scientists try to define these things but science doesn’t have all the answers. These are philosophical and moral questions. Is a virus alive? Well, most scientists say no. But a virus has DNA, can evolve, and can make you sick. That’s alive enough for me. 😉 The world is filled with so many phenomena that we can’t categorize everything into nice, neat black and white sets. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/83 "2010-05-07T01:48:41Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > That’s easy > > Life, noun > > 1 A defunct magazine published by TimeLife > > 2 A breakfast cereal available in plain and cinnamon varieties > > 3 A boardgame with little cars If only I’d been so clever. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/84 "2010-05-07T01:54:02Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Is a virus alive? Well, most scientists say no. But a virus has DNA, can evolve, and can make you sick. That’s alive enough for me. I would disagree. Last time I checked, a virus cannot reproduce without hijacking the cell of a living organism. I don’t remember if they eat (take in nutrients and excrete waste) or grow. I like to think of viruses as alive-ish > [@](#): > > The world is filled with so many phenomena that we can’t categorize everything into nice, neat black and white sets. Isn’t it just marvelous? ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/85 "2010-05-07T02:38:04Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I would disagree. Last time I checked, a virus cannot reproduce without hijacking the cell of a living organism. I don’t remember if they eat (take in nutrients and excrete waste) or grow. I like to think of viruses as alive-ish To continue this hijack, here’s how I like to parse it: The host cell is a living system. The virus combined with its host cell is a living system. That system contains parts from the virus, and other parts co-opted from the host cell. The virus particle, alone and outside of a host, is not a living system. It’s only one component of the whole system. It’s not alive, in the same way that an in vitro system of some small number of cell proteins and DNA is not alive (even though that system might do interesting biochemistry). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/86 "2010-05-07T03:35:15Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > I’d say alive is - functioning with specific unique intentions. Now you’re bringing “intentions” into it? Are you implying that everything that is alive has “intentions”? And they are unique in every instance? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538/87 "2010-05-07T03:58:44Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > I asked a question hoping for a factual scientific answer. It seems to me like you’d like to think ahead of me and somehow make this into a debate. If I was looking for a debate, I’d take it to great debates. I asked for a factual scientific answer and I thank you for giving it. > [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Sir, there is no discussion here. There was a question from me. You chose to answer it. I have accepted your answer/s. > [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > We are now getting into a debate and I am not looking for one. You might as well ask me to define every word I use. Thanks anyway. [Moderating] I’m going to to take these responses to indicate that the question has been answered to the OP’s satisfaction. I also think most of the possible scientific and factual answers to the question have been presented. Therefore I am going to close this as “asked and answered.” If the OP or anyone else wants to debate any the ramifications of the question, please start another thread in Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-beating-heart-signify-life-exists-in-a-human/538538.md?page=4)