Living and non-living things can be distinguished based on several characteristics:
Living Things- Organization: Composed of cells, the basic unit of life. Complex organisms have specialized cells forming tissues, organs, and systems.
- Metabolism: Undergo metabolic processes to convert energy from food into usable forms, involving catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules) .
- Growth and Development: Increase in size and undergo changes over their lifespan.
- Reproduction: Capable of producing offspring to ensure the continuation of their species, either sexually or asexually.
- Response to Stimuli: React to environmental changes (light, temperature, sound, etc.) for survival and adaptation.
- Homeostasis: Maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes, regulating temperature, pH, and other conditions.
- Adaptation and Evolution: Evolve over generations through natural selection, leading to adaptations that enhance survival and reproduct
- Lack of Cellular Structure: Do not have cells or the organization found in living organisms.
- No Reproduction: Cannot reproduce or generate offspring.
- No Response to Stimuli: Do not respond to environmental changes or stimuli in the way living organisms do.
- No Homeostasis: Cannot maintain a stable internal environment.
- No Adaptation or Evolution: Do not undergo evolutionary changes or adapt to their environment.
Examples
- Living Things**: Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and humans.
- Non-Living Things**: Rocks, water, air, minerals, and man-made objects like buildings and machines.
These characteristics help differentiate living things, which exhibit life processes, from non-living things, which do not.