I am answering questions for Conexus 7th grade science. What distinguishes difference between living and nonliving things?
The distinction between living and nonliving things is an important concept in science. To understand the difference, consider the following characteristics:
1. Organization: Living things are organized at different levels, starting from cells and going up to tissues, organs, and organ systems. Nonliving objects, on the other hand, lack this level of organization.
2. Growth: Living things have the ability to increase their size or change in shape over time. They can grow and develop, unlike nonliving things which remain constant in size and form.
3. Reproduction: Living organisms have the ability to reproduce and produce offspring of the same species. This is a key characteristic that distinguishes living things from nonliving objects, as nonliving objects do not have the ability to replicate themselves.
4. Response to stimuli: Living things are able to respond and react to their environment. They can sense and interpret external stimuli and adjust their behavior accordingly. Nonliving objects, on the other hand, are incapable of responding to stimuli.
5. Metabolism: Living organisms have metabolic processes, which involve taking in energy from their environment, transforming it, and utilizing it for growth, reproduction, and other vital functions. Nonliving objects do not have metabolic processes.
6. Homeostasis: Living organisms have the ability to maintain a stable internal environment, even in the face of external changes. This characteristic is known as homeostasis and is absent in nonliving things.
To answer questions related to distinguishing between living and nonliving things, you can use these characteristics as a reference. Analyze the given object or organism and see if it exhibits these characteristics. If it does, then it is likely a living thing. If it does not, then it is a nonliving thing.