In the previous chapter, we looked at life processes involved in themaintenance functions in living organisms. There, we had started witha notion we all have, that if we see something moving, it is alive. Some ofthese movements are in fact the result of growth, as in plants. A seedgerminates and grows, and we can see that the seedling moves over thecourse of a few days, it pushes soil aside and comes out. But if its growthwere to be stopped, these movements would not happen. Somemovements, as in many animals and some plants, are not connectedwith growth. A cat running, children playing on swings, buffaloeschewing cud – these are not movements caused by growth.Why do we associate such visible movements with life?