Professor Martinez asked:
How do you know that you are alive? Is the scientific definition of a living thing complete or are there other characteristics that you would use to define a living thing?
My response:
I know that I am alive in the scientific sense because I meet all the 9 requirements outlined in the textbook "Campbell Essential Biology". I have order, shown in the symmetry of my body. I exhibit regulation; my body sweats to maintain the homeostasis of my body's internal temperature. I grow. I utilize energy by eating. I respond to my environment. For example, I blink to remove sand from my eye. I have the ability to reproduce as a human. I as a human have the potential to evolve as my ancestors evolved.
While I generally agree with the scientific definition of life there should be certain exceptions to the scientific definition of a living thing. Such as mules, which while incapable of reproducing other mules, are very much alive.