1.microorganism ( )a.responsiveness
2.characteristics of living things( )b.soil formation
Answers
Answer:
Your question is not quite clear, but I'll try to answer your second question, i.e., "What are the characteristics of living things?"
Biology Chapter-1 (Class 11)
1. Growth: Living things grow by increase in mass and increase in number of individuals/cells. In multi cellular organisms in particular, growth occur by cell division or increase in number of cells. Growth occurs continuously throughout life in plants, whereas, in animals, it occurs up to a certain age only.
Non-living things like mountains, boulders, sand dunes also grow in size, but just by accumulating the material on their external surface. Thus, growth in living things is internal, while in non-living things, it is external. It is to be noted that a dead organism do not grow.
2. Reproduction: Reproduction, a characteristic of living organisms is the process of producing offsprings, possessing features similar to those of parents. In multicellular organisms, the mode of reproduction is generally sexual. Living organisms also reproduce by asexual means.
Some organisms like mules, sterile worker bees, infertile human couples, etc., do not reproduce. Hence, reproduction also cannot be an all-inclusive defining characteristic of living organisms.
3. Metabolism: Metabolism is an another characteristic and defining feature of all living things. The sum total of anabolic or constructive reactions (anabolism) and catabolic or destructive reactions (catabolism) continuously occurring inside the body is called metabolism. It can be considered as a defining feature of all living organisms without exception.
4. Cellular Organisation: The cells are the building blocks of all living things whether plants, animals or humans. The unicellular organisms are made of a single cell, while multi cellular organisms are formed by millions of cells. The cells contain protoplasm (living matter) and cell organelles (inside the cells) which perform several activities at the cellular level and result into various life processes.
5. Consciousness: All living organisms have the ability to sense their environment. They respond to various physical, chemical and biological stimuli.
The various external factors to which living organisms respond are light, water, temperature, pollutants, other organisms, etc. Light duration or photo period affects many seasonal breeders, plants as well as animals.
Humans are superior to all living things as they have an additional ability of self-consciousness. Therefore, consciousness can also said to be a defining property of living organisms.
6. Body Organisation: The body of living organisms is organised, i.e., several component and sub-components cooperate with each other for the functioning of whole body.