Autonomy is key to "life itself" in Rosen's mathematical model for relational biology. As he says "a material system is an organism if, and only if, it is closed to efficient causation."
Likewise, autonomy is relevant in defining life v non-life/death in nature using Shannon's mathematical model of communications. Which is to say, when a thing in nature is autonomously communicating its message (DNA/RNA) it is alive. When it can no longer communicate, it is dead. If it never could communicate, it is non-life.
Moreover, Scripture confirms biological autonomy (emphasis mine:)
In contrast to biological life which is autonomous ("hath life") - our Spiritual life is non-autonomous.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. John 6:63
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Corinthians 2:14
And another confirmation from Scripture:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? - I Corinthians 6:19
You might also be interested in my post 138.
Not altogether depending on the "ears"....
But neither is DNA "altogether physically manifest." There is a sense in which DNA is not physical at all, its sense as an idea and a pretty darn useful one, as it turns out. The point is, the term DNA refers both to "code" and the physical carrier of the code (i.e., the DNA molecule). Yet typically we do not draw this distinction. Anyhoot, you can "fractionate," or "reduce" a molecule all day long; but you cannot "fractionate" an idea.
The Word cannot be fractionated.
Your points about autonomy/non-autonomy and the vital importance of communication in living systems are so well stated, dearest sister in Christ!
...when a thing in nature is autonomously communicating its message (DNA/RNA) it is alive. When it can no longer communicate, it is dead. If it never could communicate, it is non-life.Seems like an excellent "rule of thumb" to me!
Thank you ever so much for your wonderful essay/post, dearest sister in Christ, and for your very kind words of support!