Life is a characteristic distinguishing physical entities having biological processes (such as signaling and self-sustaining processes) from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life
Vitalism is the belief that the life-principle is non-material. This originated with Stahl (17th century), and held sway until the middle of the 19th century. It appealed to philosophers such as Henri Bergson, Nietzsche, Wilhelm Dilthey, anatomists like Bichat, and chemists like Liebig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life
Some theories, such as the Late Heavy Bombardment theory, suggest that life on Earth may have started even earlier, and may have begun as early as 4.1 billion years ago according to a 2015 study, or even, 4.25 billion years ago, or even earlier yet, 4.4 billion years ago, according to another study.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life
n. 1. An individual form of life, such as a bacterium, protist, fungus, plant, or animal, composed of a single cell or a complex of cells in which organelles or organs work together to carry out the various processes of life. 2.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Living+organisms
The DNA of a prokaryotic cell consists of a single chromosome that is in direct contact with the cytoplasm. The nuclear region in the cytoplasm is called the nucleoid. Most prokaryotes are the smallest of all organisms ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 µm in diameter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)
The cell (from Latin cella, meaning small room) is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. Cells are the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and are often called the building blocks of life. The study of cells is called cell biology. Cells consist of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane, which contains many biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)
Abiogenesis is the natural process of life arising from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds. The age of the Earth is about 4.54 billion years. The earliest life on Earth arose at least 3.5 billion years ago, during the Eoarchean Era when sufficient crust had solidified following the molten Hadean Eon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life
1 Inside the cell is the cytoplasmic region that contains the genome (DNA), ribosomes and various sorts of inclusions. 2  The genetic material is freely found in the cytoplasm. 3  Prokaryotes can carry extrachromosomal DNA elements called plasmids, which are usually circular.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)
1. organism-a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently. being. animate thing, living thing-a living (or once living) entity. benthos-organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of a sea.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Living+organisms
The smallest contiguous unit of life is called an organism. Organisms are composed of one or more cells, undergo metabolism, maintain homeostasis, can grow, respond to stimuli, reproduce (either sexually or asexually) and, through evolution, adapt to their environment in successive generations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life
what is one way that materials can be organized inside of a living thing
The genetic material is the way that can be organized inside of a living thing.