1. Organization: All living things are organized, meaning they are made up of cells, which are the basic units of life. This organization can be at different levels (cells, tissues, organs, etc.) depending on the complexity of the organism.

2. Metabolism: Organisms carry out chemical reactions to acquire and use energy. This includes processes like breaking down food for energy (catabolism) and building complex molecules (anabolism).

3. Growth and Development: Organisms increase in size and complexity over time. This growth can be due to an increase in cell number or cell size. Development refers to the changes in form and function that an organism undergoes throughout its life.

4. Response to Stimuli: Organisms react to changes in their environment. This can include responses to light, temperature, chemicals, or other organisms.

5. Reproduction: Organisms produce offspring to ensure the continuation of their species. This can be through sexual reproduction (involving the combination of genetic material from two parents) or asexual reproduction (involving only one parent).

It's important to note that these are general traits, and there are always exceptions. For example, some organisms like viruses are not considered "living" by some scientists as they lack some of these traits.