Mechanism remains a controversy in biology; indeed, it is ever more pronounced the more we learn of cell and molecular biology. Ribosomes sure look like machines to me. Work with Mycoplasma to find the minimal genome set necessary and sufficient to rudimentary life remains a strictly biological endeavour.

From a theoretical point of view, we should like further to understand which portions of the biological mechanisms (that do prove to be biologically necessary and sufficient) might yet be excised, replaced with a non-biological mechanism that nevertheless satisfies the interface to the remaining biological structures, and so provides continuity to the biological processes that remain.

Langton described artificial life as the study of life as we know it within the larger context of life as it might be.

I should like to construct one of those might be forms of life, and invite discussion of the matter.