List and define the five characteristics that ALL living things share
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To determine the five characteristics that all living things share, we need to refer to the fundamental properties of life. These characteristics can be used to distinguish living organisms from non-living matter. Let's go through each characteristic and provide a brief definition:
1. Organization: Living things are highly organized, meaning they are made up of one or more cells, which are the basic structural and functional units of life. Cells work together to form tissues, organs, and ultimately organisms.
2. Metabolism: Living organisms undergo metabolic activities, which involve the acquisition, transformation, storage, and utilization of energy. This energy is needed for vital processes like growth, repair, reproduction, and response to the environment.
3. Homeostasis: Living things have the ability to maintain a stable internal environment, despite changes in the external environment. They regulate their internal conditions to ensure optimal functioning, such as temperature, pH, water balance, and ion concentrations.
4. Growth: Living organisms have the ability to increase in size or complexity. This can happen through the growth and division of cells, the enlargement of structures, or the accumulation of new body material. Growth is not merely limited to physical size but also includes the development of new structures and abilities.
5. Reproduction: Living things can produce offspring either sexually or asexually, allowing the perpetuation of their species. Reproduction ensures the continuation of genetic material and the potential for evolution.
These five characteristics—organization, metabolism, homeostasis, growth, and reproduction—are jointly shared by all living organisms. By identifying these traits, we can differentiate living organisms from non-living matter and understand the basic functions that define life.