At What Level of Organization Does Life Begin

Question

At what level of organization does life begin?  
A) Reproductive organs
B) Cell
C) Molecule (water)
D) Molecule (DNA)
E) Population

Accepted Answer

Life begins at the cell level, which is the basic unit of life. Cells are capable of performing all the essential functions necessary for life, such as obtaining nutrients, energy production, waste removal, and reproduction. Reproductive organs, molecules such as water, and populations are all composed of cells or molecules and are not capable of performing all the essential functions necessary for life. While the molecule DNA plays a critical role in the function of cells and inheritance of genetic information, it is not a sufficient level of organization for life to begin.