What are the characteristics that distinguish living things from nonliving things?

Answer 1

• Composed of cells
• Growth
• Metabolism
• Movement/locomotion
• Reproduction
• Irritability/ sensory response to the environment
• Adaptation
• Robots move as well and rocks are know to sometimes "grow" as well as minerals

Answer 2

Here are some:

Growth. Ok, crystals and stalactites can grow bigger too, but living organisms develop, i.e. they change and different parts become specialized as they grow.

Respiration, meaning releasing energy from chemical compounds, and using the energy for living processes.

Sensitivity, meaning having the ability to respond to changes in the environment, such as moving or growing towards light.

Movement, both of organelles inside cells and of whole parts of the organism, or even the whole organism, such as when you walk down the street.

Nutrition, meaning taking in chemical compounds to use for their energy content or as structural materials.

Excretion of waste products, e.g. from respiration.

Reproduction: forming new individuals.

In addition, living organisms typically contain nucleic acids (usually DNA) which store genetic information. But scientists argue about whether viruses, which contain DNA or RNA, are living or not, as they cannot carry out all the above processes, and only the others when inside a host cell. Ultimately, the virus question is one of definition.

Answer 3

There seven characteristics of life which must all be fulfilled in order for something to be called living. # It has to be made of cells or be a cell. # It has to contain basic chemicals for life such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. # it has to react to external stimuli # it has to use and need energy # it has to be able to reproduce # it has to be able to grow # it has to be able to develop the instincts and abilities necessary for life.

Answer 4

The abilities to grow and replicate through metabolism, respond to stimuli, and adapt are qualities of living organisms. Non-living things like ions, water molecules, calcium deposits and silver spoons do not grow, they do not replicate, respond to stimuli or adapt.

Answer 5

Living organisms must be able to grow, to adapt to their environment, to reproduce, and to use energy. They must also have to be composed of cells.

Answer 6

ability to move, respire, sense, grow, reproduce, excrete, and take in nutrients (eat).

Answer 7

Living organisms must be able to reproduce, grow, respond to stimuli, have a metabolism, and be composed of cells (or a single cell if prokaryotic).