Communication

The life starts, when is able to fully communicate with environment.
Communication of inorganic compounds with surrounding environment is on basic level to create all known chemical elements from matter. But they don't involve consciousness seen within organic life.
Communication starting on atomic level. All chemistry is about communication of chemical elements under certain laws. Communication is then basic fact for all structures whether non-living or living.

Awareness of energy and ability to change one form to another is form of conscious state. Energetic bridges are direct result of communication between any elements in Cosmos. We know four fundamental forces, gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear force. They all involve different types of information for communication.
They are giving different instructions for creation and together cooperate within laws of existence.

Whether we talk about inorganic or organic structures, there is needed some type of consciousness. In basic meaning it's ability to act under laws of physics, creating chemical reactions, movement, change.