Part 2/10:
Yet, some scientists challenge this viewpoint, asserting that the origin of life may be far more random and less absolute than previously thought. For instance, life could potentially manifest in non-carbon-based forms, leading to the hypothesis that organisms might rise from entirely different biochemical environments on other planets. Such debates have led a growing number of scientists to adopt a functional perspective when defining life. Instead of wrapping definitions around organic composition, they explore vital functions synonymous with living beings, such as metabolism, genetic evolution, and self-reproduction.