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life
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African elephants Streptococcus pyogenes mangrove roots, Thailand bald eagle reed frog Venus flytrap initial proposal of DNA structure carbon cycle molecular view of the cell membrane
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Streptococcus pyogenes
life summary
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Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.
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greylag. Flock of Greylag geese during their winter migration at Bosque del Apache National Refugee, New Mexico. greylag goose (Anser anser)
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Cell transport - illustration of a diffusion of liquid molecules through cell membrane. Phospholibid bilayer
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H1N1 influenza virus particles. Colorized transmission electron micrograph. Surface proteins on surface of the virus particles shown in black. Influenza flu
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Panama Canal infographic
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Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden
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Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
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Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro
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Four year old boy with grandfather and father lighting Hanukkah menorah. Photo taken on: December 21st, 2009
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African elephants
African elephants A herd of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) drinking from the Chobe River, Botswana.

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Written by
Lynn Margulis
Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Coauthor of Five Kingdoms: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth; What Is Life?; and others.
Lynn Margulis,
Carl Sagan
Astronomer and science writer Carl Sagan (1934-96) was a highly popular and influential figure in the United States and controversial in scientific, political, and religious circles for his views on extraterrestrial...
Carl Sagan•All
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Last Updated: • Article History

life, living matter and, as such, matter that shows certain attributes that include responsiveness, growth, metabolism, energy transformation, and reproduction. Although a noun, as with other defined entities, the word life might be better cast as a verb to reflect its essential status as a process. Life comprises individuals, living beings, assignable to groups (taxa). Each individual is composed of one or more minimal living units, called cells, and is capable of transformation of carbon-based and other compounds (metabolism), growth, and participation in reproductive acts. Life-forms present on Earth today have evolved from ancient common ancestors through the generation of ...(100 of 16671 words)

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