- They are made of cells. All living things are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life. Cells are the smallest structural and functional units of living organisms. They are responsible for all the functions of life, including growth, reproduction, and metabolism.

- They need energy. All organisms require energy to carry out their life processes. Energy is the ability to do work, and it is obtained from food. Organisms use energy to grow, reproduce, and move.

- They grow and reproduce. All organisms grow and reproduce. Growth is the process of increasing in size and complexity. Reproduction is the process of producing offspring.

- They respond to their environment. All organisms respond to their environment. This means that they are able to sense changes in their environment and to make changes in their behavior in response to those changes.

- They maintain homeostasis. All organisms maintain homeostasis, which is the ability to keep their internal conditions constant despite changes in their external environment. Homeostasis is essential for life, and it is achieved through a variety of mechanisms, such as negative feedback loops.

These are just a few of the general characteristics that are true of all organisms. There is a great diversity of life on Earth, but all living things share these fundamental characteristics.