1. Organization: Living things are highly organized, with cells as the basic unit. They have specialized structures that work together to perform specific functions.
2. Metabolism: Living things carry out chemical reactions that allow them to obtain and use energy, build and break down molecules, and eliminate waste.
3. Growth and Development: Living things increase in size and complexity over time, following a specific pattern of development.
4. Responsiveness: Living things respond to stimuli in their environment. This includes both internal (like blood sugar levels) and external (like temperature changes) stimuli.
5. Adaptation: Living things evolve over time, adapting to their environment to ensure survival and reproduction.
6. Reproduction: Living things produce offspring to pass on their genetic information.
7. Homeostasis: Living things maintain a stable internal environment, despite changes in their external surroundings. This includes regulating things like temperature, pH, and water balance.
These seven characteristics are not "processes" in the sense of a step-by-step sequence, but rather essential qualities that define life. They are interconnected and work together to ensure the survival and continuation of living organisms.
