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Science Writer Carl Zimmer says scientific breakthroughs could alter the definition of life (again).

By Rich Fisher

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-828346.mp3

Tulsa, Oklahoma – Science writer Carl Zimmer examines the definition of "What is life?" in the J.W. Powell Memorial Lecture happening Sunday at the University of Tulsa. His latest book, "Microcosm: E.coli and the New Science of Life," published by Pantheon Books, explains that this tiny bacteria, feared by most of us in its virulent form, has had an enormous impact as a research tool in expanding our understanding of biology and biochemistry this past century. Five Nobel Prizes have been awarded to researchers using E.coli has their test organism.