These characteristics are not a definitive list, but they are commonly used to identify living organisms:
* Organization: Living things are highly organized, from the cellular level to complex organ systems.
* Metabolism: Living things carry out chemical reactions to obtain and use energy.
* Growth and Development: Living things increase in size and complexity over time.
* Response to Stimuli: Living things react to changes in their environment.
* Homeostasis: Living things maintain a stable internal environment.
* Reproduction: Living things produce offspring.
* Adaptation: Living things evolve over time to better suit their environment.
It's important to note that no single characteristic defines life and there are exceptions to each. For example, viruses are not considered living organisms because they lack the ability to reproduce on their own. However, they share some characteristics of life, such as organization and the ability to evolve.
