Living

Living refers to the state of being alive and functioning, a characteristic of organisms that distinguishes them from inanimate objects or dead organisms. It involves various biological processes such as growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to stimuli.

Definition

The term 'living' is often defined in terms of the characteristics that living organisms possess. These include the ability to grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, adapt to their environment through natural selection, and maintain homeostasis.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

Living organisms share several key characteristics:

• Growth: Living organisms have the ability to grow and develop. This involves the increase in size and number of cells, which is a result of cell division.

• Reproduction: Living organisms have the ability to reproduce and create offspring. This can occur through sexual or asexual reproduction.

• Metabolism: Living organisms have the ability to metabolize, which involves the conversion of food to energy, elimination of waste products, and the use of energy in the growth and repair of cells.

• Response to stimuli: Living organisms can respond to changes in their environment. This can involve physical responses, such as moving towards or away from a stimulus, or physiological responses, such as the release of hormones.

• Adaptation through natural selection: Living organisms have the ability to adapt to their environment over generations. This is a result of natural selection, where traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in successive generations.

Life Processes

Living organisms carry out several life processes, including:

• Nutrition: The process by which organisms obtain and use food.

• Respiration: The process by which organisms convert food into usable energy.

• Transport: The process by which substances move within the organism.

• Excretion: The process by which waste products are eliminated from the organism.

See Also

• Biology
• Life
• Organism