What are the seven characteristics of life? (Choose 7 answer choices.)

Select 7 correct answer(s)
Question 6 options:

Heredity

Homeostasis

Growth and Development

Respiration

Adaptation

Metabolism

Reproduction

Conservation is using materials and resources wisely to protect the environment. Which activity below would be a great way to practice conservation while completing this lab?

Question 7 options:

Throwing away all lab materials (slides, jars, microscope, etc.) when finished with the assignment.

Gathering more pond water and dirt/mud than you actually need.

Returning unused pond water and/or reusing lab materials (slides, jars, microscope, etc.)

There is no way to practice conservation while completing this lab.

Returning unused pond water and/or reusing lab materials (slides, jars, microscope, etc.)

The correct seven characteristics of life are:

1. Heredity
2. Homeostasis
3. Growth and Development
4. Respiration
5. Adaptation
6. Metabolism

To determine the seven characteristics of life, we can follow a process of elimination by evaluating each option against the criteria commonly used to define life.

1. Heredity: Heredity refers to the passing on of traits from one generation to the next. While heredity is a fundamental aspect of life, it is not one of the seven characteristics typically used to define it.

2. Homeostasis: Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. This is considered a characteristic of life and is important for the proper functioning of living organisms.

3. Growth and Development: Growth refers to an increase in size or number of cells, while development involves the progression from simple to more complex forms. Both growth and development are fundamental characteristics of life.

4. Respiration: Respiration refers to the process of obtaining energy from organic molecules by breaking them down in the presence of oxygen. While respiration is an important biochemical process, it is not one of the defining characteristics of life.

5. Adaptation: Adaptation refers to the ability of organisms to adjust to their environment through genetic or behavioral changes. Although adaptation is a common feature of living organisms, it is not one of the core characteristics of life.

6. Metabolism: Metabolism encompasses all the chemical reactions that occur within an organism to maintain life. It includes processes such as digestion, energy production, and waste elimination. Metabolism is one of the essential characteristics of living organisms.

Based on this analysis, the three characteristics of life are: Homeostasis, Growth and Development, and Metabolism.