Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A. maintains homeostasis
B.
composed of cells
C. composed of atoms
D. carries out metabolism
I believe c?
To determine which of the given options is NOT a characteristic of life, we need to examine each option and identify if it applies to living organisms.
A. Maintains homeostasis: This refers to the ability of an organism to regulate its internal environment to maintain a stable condition. Living organisms actively work to maintain a balanced state. Therefore, this is a characteristic of life.
B. Composed of cells: All living organisms are composed of cells. This is a fundamental characteristic that distinguishes living things from non-living entities.
C. Composed of atoms: Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter, including all living organisms. However, this is a general characteristic of matter and does not specifically define life. Therefore, this is a possible candidate for the correct answer.
D. Carries out metabolism: Metabolism refers to the chemical processes that occur within an organism to maintain life, such as obtaining energy from food and utilizing it for growth, reproduction, and other physiological activities. This is a key characteristic of life.
Based on the explanations above, the characteristic that is NOT specifically associated with life is C. Composed of atoms. This is because all matter, living and non-living, is composed of atoms.