[Stark_GOP]

I'm not being facetious here. You said "even a child knows" this stuff, but I contend he doesn't "know" anything in this regard. Neither do you nor do I.
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Okay class. Is this rock in my hand alive?

[Junior]

You haven't answered the question; you've merely distracted from the point. What is the difference between non-life and life? At what point can organic chemical reactions be considered life?

This is not nearly as obvious as you seem to think it is.

[balrog666]

Okay class. Is this rock in my hand alive?

I'm wondering more about the rock in your head...

[b_sharp]

"Okay class. Is this rock in my hand alive?"

Its one thing to recognize the difference between a rock and a bird, two objects that are far enough apart that their difference in appearance and properties are obvious, but the differences blur when the two being compared are extremely close. Would you consider self replicating molecule strings alive? Are prions alive? How about virii? When the organisms are this basic it is very difficult to determine the difference between life and non-life.