Basic Characteristics of all Living Organisms

Basic Characteristics of all Living Organisms

1. GROWTH

   • Increase in length, weight, mass, volume. For unicellular - increase in number

2. REPRODUCTION

   • Ability of living organism to produce offspring of same kind.

3. METABOLISM

   • Sum total of all the chemical reactions occurring inside a living cell/body.
   • CATABOLISM
     • Destructive reactions/ Breakdown Reactions. Example: Respiration
   • ANABOLISM
     • Constructive/ Formation reactions. Example: Photosynthesis

4. LOCOMOTION

5. CONSCIOUSNESS

   • Ability to respond to a stimulii

6. ENERGY REQUIREMENT

7. REPAIR AND REGENERATION

8. DEFINITE LIFE SPAN

9. SENESCENCE

   • Maturity till old age

10. DEATH