In human chemistry, life is a sub-atomic or chemical species in a state of evolution reactivity. [1] Life, in detail, is the animated interaction of matter with energy. Any variety of animate structure on the surface of the earth has a molecular formula and subsequently can be defined as a molecule. A bee, for example, is approximately a 20-element molecule. [2] Thus, for instance, human life being the activity of temporal interactions between systems of human molecules, is an advanced variety of atomic or molecular life.

In a general sense, the anthropomorphic version of life, e.g. human life, biological life, bacterial life, etc., began at the Planck-level. Variations of sub-atomic life, e.g. "quark life", is a newer area of investigation.

Difficulties on conception
In current literature, stemming from a combination of Charles Darwin's 1871 supposition that the original spark of life may have begun in a "warm little pond, with all sorts of ammonia and phosphoric salts, lights, heat, electricity, etc. present, so that a protein compound was chemically formed ready to undergo still more complex changes" and fossil records indicating that bacteria existed on the surface of the earth about 3.85 billion years ago, there exists the commonly-held belief that biological life supposedly "sprang forth" on one particular day from inorganic non-life about 3.5 to 4 billion years ago. According to standard molecular evolution tables, which show the growth or forced buildup of atomic structure of animate molecules from the hydrogen atom to the human molecule, however, this logic is a false view. Correctly, biological life and chemical life are one and the same. [2]

Reaction mechanism view

See also: Induced movement

Life, in general is classified by evolution. Evolution, in component essence, is characterized by coupled chemical reactions in which smaller animate molecular structures react or reproduced to form larger molecular structures. To cite one example of this type of logic, in the 2005 book Genesis – the Scientific Quest for Life’s Origin, geologist and earth scientist Robert Hazen tells us correctly that life results whenever energy flows through a molecular system and that this energy can drive such molecular systems toward ever more levels of complexity.

Life on earth, according to Hazen, is a result of energy interactions among versatile carbon-based molecules. From these carbon-based systems, according to Hazen, come the emergence of larger molecular structures, along with the selection, concentration, and assembly of life’s membranes, proteins, and genetic molecules. Eventually, according to this logic, these biomolecular structures would form self-replicating cycles, or chemical systems that could copy themselves and compete for finite and dwindling supplies of resources. Ultimately, in Hazen’s view, competition between different self-replicating cycles works to trigger evolution by natural selection, and subsequently the development of life. This is a very accurate depiction. To elaborate on this picture, Hazen cites space biologist Gerald Joyce’s working definition of life: "Life is a self-sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution." [3]

Hazen reasons, accurately, that ‘any attempt to formulate an absolute definition that distinguishes life from non-life represents a false dichotomy.’ The first cell did not just appear, according to Hazen, but rather arose through a sequence of emergent events, similar to how fossil records show that new evolved species have continuously emerged throughout history. First there was organic synthesis, then molecular selection and diversification, followed by increases in atomic complexity and further molecular evolution.

Moreover, ‘what appears to us as a yawning divide between life and non-life,’ according to Hazen, ‘obscures the fact that the chemical evolution of life occurred in a stepwise sequence of successively more complex stages of emergence.’ Hazen tells us that the basics of these steps began with a pre-biotic earth enriched with organic molecules, which then evolved to form functional clusters of molecules, perhaps arranged on a mineral surface, which assembled into larger self-replicating molecular systems that were able to copy themselves, then on to encapsulation in membranes, and finally to cellular life. [4]

References
1. Thims, Libb. (2007). Human Chemistry (Volume One), (preview), (pg. 43). Morrisville, NC: LuLu.
2. (a) Thims, Libb. (2007). Human Chemistry (Volume One), (preview), (ch. 5 "Molecular Evolution"). Morrisville, NC: LuLu.
(b) Molecular Evolution Table - Institute of Human Thermodynamics
3. Gerald Joyce, NASA Exobiology Panel [1994]
4. Hazen, Robert M. (2005). Genesis – the Scientific Quest for Life’s Origin. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press.