Cybernetics and other food for thought

Six criteria are given to determine if a system is autopoietic:

1. Does the system have identifiable boundaries ?
2. Does it have constituent elements or components ?
3. Is it mechanistic (subject to cause and effect) ?
4. Are the boundaries self-produced ?
5. Are the components of the boundaries self-produced ?
6. Are the rest of the components self-produced ?

I read this stuff and it doesn't seem to have a lot of application for me. Is it my own inherent block with not liking bio? I typically like discussions.... why does it seem dry, unlively and horribly over detailed and complex?