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One supposes that the latter are fully specified by the physico-chemical laws. But it seems to me we cannot say the same thing about living organisms: Their behavior is not limited to what can be predicted on the basis of initial conditions and the operation of the physical laws.

Indeed. If the physico-chemicals law were enough, the Frankenstein experiments would have worked.

As another example, Wimmer's creation of the polio virus in a test tube began with an information sequence converted from the DNA to RNA (RNA cannot be synthesized) - after which he provided a cell free juice (human cell with mitochondria, nucleus removed) whereupon the virus built itself.

The key element here - which was unknown to Urey/Miller 1950's experiments - was information, both the message and its successful communication.

Thank you so much for your excellent essay-posts!