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Classification and Life Cycle of.Living Beings : 421
Life-cycle of Worldly Living Beings: Birth, Growth and Death All worldly living beings have a life cycle consisting of birth, growth and death phenomena. These processes are the most visible signs of life. They are not mentioned by Kundakunda ( he seems to believe in pure, immortal beings like Vedāntins), but they are described in Bhagavati and other canons and pro-canons. The birth represents the reproduction of the living followed by its growth and termination. There is sufficient material about these processes in Prākṛta literature which will be summarised here.
It has already been said that the livingness comes into existence due to the resultant growth of six completions. These are said to generate force, energy, vitality or heat for the functioning of life through metabolic change and observing its characteristics. The question is where do the first life symptoms in the worldly living arise from? This has been one of the most complex question where difference of opinion even between various philosophies and sciences still exists and no decisive answer to it, as yet, could be given except various types of intellectual thoughts.
However, the successful synthesis of living cell in 1968 and production of genes in early seventies seem to be suggestive of material birth of primary life. A partial success in creating life in laboratory is visible but this will produce man, is very doubtful. This is because laws applicable to microworld are not as well applicable to macroworld. However, there has been a large amount of work on relating the complex proteins-RNA, DNA and other compounds with knowledge, memory and diseases. By introducing specific compounds, any of the above characteristics may be suppressed, denatured and modified. Dr. Kabra has reported many cases in this connection20. Volitional changes may also be covered through these inductions. Even changes in food habits lead to modify volitions. Jaina, however, seems to cast doubt on the success of scientists in this direction21. Still, the facts coming to light have a different
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