Are We Active Matter?

The very first thing that we learn in biology is about the Cell. So what is Cell?

Here is the definition that is given in Wikipedia. "The cell (from Latin cella, meaning "small room"^[1]) is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms"

Now, the next question that comes in our mind is what makes it?

The cell consists of cytoplasm and comprises several subcellular organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi body, vacuoles and many more.

Now next, what makes cytoplasm or these organelles?

Well, again the answer is known. They are made of biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids (Wikipedia).

We can further move on and ask, what biological molecules comprise of? Again here is the answer from web source - the biological molecules comprise several elements mostly carbon and its derivative.

Like this, we can go on and we will certainly reach the atom and then down to the elementary particles.

The point that I want to make is that at a cellular or subcellular level they behave like an active entity i.e. they are mobile and can continuously dissipate energy. The consequence is visible in the form of cell division or cytoplasm streaming and many more.

The way we define the dynamics of such a system also changes, we have to include the term that incorporates activity. Then comes the Physics of Active matter. I present below the chart of the hierarchy of active elements that constitute the living organisms. Next, I leave on the reader to decide.

PS: I am a layman in the field of Active Matter. So if you discover any error or mistake then please feel free to comment.

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