Subject: Why wouldn't a mule be considered a living organism?

I need this for a debate in Public Speaking. I have looked everywhere and 
can't find an answer besides that it can't reproduce. So if you would please 
help me by giving me an answer that doesn't have that it can't reproduce. Help 
is greatly appreciated.

Response:

Re: Why wouldn't a mule be considered a living organism?

Greetings,

Thanks for submitting your question about biology to the MadSci Network. I am 
pleased to let you know that questions related to yours have been answered 
on our site. You can use our search engine to locate answers containing the 
word(s) definition of life:
http://www.madsci.org/MS_search.html

Mules ARE living organisms. The only way that a mule could not be considered to
be a living organism would be if it was dead.

I think that you are confusing some of the terms that are used in defining what is 
alive. Take a look at these answers for a discussion of this definition:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-06/961007835.Bc.r.html
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-12/946398314.Bt.r.html
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-11/942624900.Gb.r.html 

From this last answer, you can see that the following concepts are central to the 
definition of life:
Metabolism, Growth, Response to the environment or stimulation, Reproduction.

To these we usually also add Celluar Structure -- meaning that the smallest 
living unit of the organism is a cell -- and Capacity to Evolve -- meaning that
a species of these organisms is subject to natural selection.

Mules ARE living organisms. They are made of cells. These cells carry out growth
and metabolism, they respond to their environment, and the individual cells
can reproduce. Individual cells can also go through natural selection and evolve;
for example, a Mule can develop cancer, which results from a sort of intra-organismal
cellular evolution. In addition Mules CAN reproduce; it is just very rare for them 
to do so. Take a look at this answer for more information:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/direct_ans/1147309165.Ot.q.html

You can see that there have been 60 live births to mules recorded in the last 
~500 years. 

In general, it is not the case that there are two sides to every argument. Just 
because you want something to be possible doesn't mean that it will be. You
are fighting an up-hill battle with your side of this debate, as Mules really are
living organisms, without question. 

However, If I had to argue that a Mule does not meet the definition of a living organism,
I would do so on the basis of the Mule population being unable to evolve. Even
though Mules are made of cells, carry out metabolism and growth, respond 
to the environment and can reproduce, there are not enough reproducing 
Mules at one time to form a population -- Mule's don't get to reproduce with
each other, and so they cannot evolve, and the Capacity for Evolution is part
of the definition of life, as is discussed in this answer (number 2 from above):
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-12/946398314.Bt.r.html

You should read all of the answers I linked above, and search through the 
archives for other related answers too. You should also follow all of the links
in the answers that you do read, to prepare for your debate. 

If, after reviewing the previous answers, you still have a question, feel free to 
submit a new question, but please be sure to tell us that you have already 
searched the archives, along with what is not in the archives that you want to 
have additional information about, or what in the the archived answers you do 
not understand. This will help us to give you the best answer possible.

Cheers, and good luck!

Steve Mack, Moderator MadSci Network

_______________________________________________________________
I need this for a debate in Public Speaking. I have looked everywhere and 
can't find an answer besides that it can't reproduce. So if you would please 
help me by giving me an answer that doesn't have that it can't reproduce. Help 
is greatly appreciated.


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