1. Organization: Living things are highly organized, with specialized structures at various levels. This starts from atoms and molecules, building up to cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems, ultimately forming a complete organism.

2. Metabolism: All living things require energy to maintain their organization, grow, and carry out life processes. This energy is acquired through metabolism, which involves chemical reactions that break down substances (catabolism) and build new ones (anabolism).

3. Growth and Development: Living things increase in size and complexity over time. This growth can be due to an increase in cell number (cell division) or an increase in cell size. Development involves changes in the organism's form and function throughout its life.

4. Reproduction: Living things produce new individuals to ensure the continuation of their species. There are various modes of reproduction, including sexual and asexual.

5. Responsiveness (or Irritability): Living things react to stimuli from their environment. This could be anything from changes in temperature or light to the presence of food or predators.

6. Homeostasis: Living things maintain a stable internal environment, even when the external environment changes. This includes regulating temperature, pH, and nutrient levels within the body.

7. Adaptation: Living things evolve over time to better suit their environment. This involves inheriting traits that give them a better chance of survival and reproduction in their specific conditions.

8. Evolution: Living things change over generations, adapting to their environment and resulting in the diversity of life we see today. This process of change is driven by natural selection, where advantageous traits are passed down more frequently.

It's important to remember that these characteristics are interconnected and work together to define life.