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| Torque monkey- Sri Lanka- Photo by : Vidura Nishantha- www.imagelanka.com |
It is not possible to give one definition to define a living organism. Therefore living organisms are identified by a set of characteristics. Some of those characters can be common to both living and non living. e.g: living organisms can move however a non living object such as a vehicle also can move.
Following are the main characteristics of living organisms
1. Growth
Growth is the irreversible increase in dry mass in an organism e.g: increase in height , weight etc.2. Development
Irreversible changes that occur during the life span of an organism is development. e.g: Behavioral changes. Growth is also an part of development .3. Metabolism
The series of biochemical reactions going on in a cell is called metabolism. Biochemical reactions can beconstructive- Anabolism e.g: synthesis of proteins from amino acids
or
destructive- Catabolism e.g: respiration
4. Irritability and coordination
Irritability is the ability to respond to stimuli from both internal and external environment. coordination is the systematic relationship between stimuli and the response.5. Adaptation
Adaptation is a peculiarity of structure, physiology or behavior that promotes thelikelihood of an organism’s survival and reproduction in a particular environment. e.g: Camouflage
6. Reproduction
Ability to produce a new offspring for continuous existence of species7. Heredity
Inheritance of characters of one generation to the next generation8. Evolution
Changes in genetics leads to evolution9. Order and organization
organizational levels
8:29 AM
A/L Biology
Adaptation
biology
Characteristics
coordination
Development
Growth
Heredity
Irritability
living
Metabolism
Order and organization
Reproduction
