How can you tell if something is living?

Answer 1

MRS GREN is how to remember them, - Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition

There is still some debate as to how one can determine if something is alive or not. Currently, we tend to look at the characteristics that "living" things already exhibit, which are: 1. Composed of cells; if no cell, no life. (for this reason, viruses are not considered to be alive.) 2. Organization; both on a molecular and cellular level. 3. Metabolism; all living organisms must use energy of some sort. 4. Response to Stimuli; simple or complex actions in response to environment. Adaptation would fit under this topic as well. 5. Reproduction; living things must be able to reproduce, not for the individual, but for the continuation of life. 6. Growth; not all organisms must grow or develop, through cell enlargement or replication, but it is common in most living things.

If something has only two or three of the characteristics listed above, it is not considered to be alive. Life must exhibit the first five characteristics to truly be alive.

The ability to reproduce, consume, and to cease existence (i.e. die) are traits that could be used to describe that which lives.

Answer 2

All living things show all of these:
1. Nutrition:Taking in nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials and energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them. 2. Excretion: Removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess. 3. Respiration: Chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy. 4. Sensitivity:
The ability to detect or sense changes in the environment and to make responses. 5. Reproduction: Progresses that make more of the same kind of organism. 6. Growth:
The permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in number of cells, cell size, or both. 7. Movement: An action by an organism or part of an organism that changes position or place. The seven characteristics can be memorized by the term Mrs. Gren

Answer 3

cells, metabolism, growth, reproduction, irritability, adaptation and movement

Answer 4

you can tell if some thing is living if it shows all characteristics of life

Answer 5

you know if something is a living thing because every living thing grows.

Answer 6

1. you can tell something is alive by the living thing can reproduce convert energy and adapt to his or her surroundings

Answer 7

Simple it will show the signs of MRS NERG

Movement

Respiration

Sensitivity

Nutrition

Excretion

Reproduction

Growth