Question

Growth cant be taken as defining property of living organisms because the growth is increase in body mass and non living organisms such as mountains "grow" as the accumulation of material on the surface still growth is used in difference between living and non living and we say non living does not grow... why is that...? ;/

Answer 1

because in the case of the mountain......the increase in the mass can't be cited as its growth as it is not it's internal growth, it's just an external phenomenon which is not applicable to each and every non living thing. there is no change in the internal structure of the mountain.

whereas we all know the growth process which takes place in living things...it's not just structural and physical change but also a hormonal change which is internal and not external and is applicable to each and every living organism.

hope it will help!