Question

1. List & describe the various characteristics that distinguish living things from non-living things.

Property	Description

Answer 1

The answer of the provided question is-

The various characteristics that distinguish living things from non living things are as follows-

Property/Characteristics Description

1. Existence of life    Living things have life. They are composed of single or multiple cells. Within  the cells they have protoplasm and this protoplasm is very important for the existence of life.Several metabolic reactions(chemical reactions such as protein formations, digestion etc) take place in living things.But, non living things do not have life in them.They are not  made up of cells and protoplasm. And, metabolic reactions are also absent in case of non living things.

2.Reproduction Reproduction is a property of living things by which they can produce new individuals ( their own offsprings). but, reproduction is not seen in case of non living things and they can not produce their own offsprings.

3.Response to stimuli Living things can sense any kind of stimulus( such as touch,light,heat, cold etc) from their environment and they can give response according to that stimulus. But, non living things can not sense any kind of stimulus and so they can not give response to any kind of stimulus.

4. Growth Living things exhibit growth, maturation and various developmental stages in their life span.But, non living things can not grow by themselves.And, no maturation and development are observed in case of non living things.

5. Immortality All living things are mortal. They die after a certain lifespan( Life span varies among living things).Though, non living things can be destroyed with the help of external forces .But, non living things can not die ,they are immortal.

6.Movement and locomotion Living things can move their body parts and they also can move from one place to another(locomotion). But, Non living things can not move their any body part and they can not exhibit locomotion( moving from one place to another) on their own.

7.Breathing and Respiration Living things breath and with the help of oxygen the digested food inside   the body breaks.As a result, carbon -di oxide and  energy is released.This process is called respiration.The energy that is released in respiration is very necessary for the survival of the living thing.But, non living things do not breath and no respiration is seen in case of non living things.

8.Eatting and Digestion Living things need food to eat. After eatting, this complex food breaks into it's simplest form and then it is absorbed in the body of the livng things.This process is called digestion .Food is very important for the survival of the living things because food gives energy(essential for survival).But, non living things do not eat and no digestion is observed in case of non living things.

9.Excretion Living things exhibit excretion ( a process with the help of which living things can remove metabolic wastes from their body).But, as no metabolic reactions take place in non living things ,no metabolic waste is generated and they do not exhibit any excretion.