You are a few hundred years behind. The details of biochemistry and metabolism are pretty well understood at this point. There is no need to invoke any kind of mysterious "life force" to explain biological systems.
And there is no "wishing" of any kind. A molecule that can "reproduce" is simply catalyzing copies of itself and be overrepresented in a pool of other molecules (isnt this self evident?). Get enough of these replicators to band together and you have the beginnings of a metabolism and "life".
Get enough of these replicators to band together and you have the beginnings of a metabolism and "life".
They were a formidable foe to the Goa 'ulds.