What is meant by living 7 Give a detailed account of any four defining features of life forms.

Explanation

he state of Material complex or individual characterized by the capacity to perform certain functional activities including metabolism, growth and Reproduction.
1) Growth : All living organisms increase in mass and increase in number. In plants, growth occurs by cell division, continuously throughout their life span. Unicellular organisms also grow in size until they divide by cell division.
2) Reproduction : "Reproduction means progeny possessing feautures more or less similar to those of parents organisms. reproduce asexually and also by sexual methods. Fungi reproduce asexually by spores. Filamentous algae and Protonema of mosses reproduce by Fragmentation. In unicellular oganisms like Bacteria, unicellular algae or Amoeba reproduction is synonymous with growth. There are many organisms which do not reproduce. Hence reproduction also cannot be an all-inclusive defining characterestic of living organisms. 3) Metabolism : The sum total of all the chemica l reaction occuring in the body of a living organisms is called metabolism. All plants, Animals, Fungi and Microbes exhibit metabolism. No nonliving obejct exhibit metabolism.
4) Ability to sense their surroundings : All living organisms, have the ability to sense their surroundings or environment and respond to Physical, Chemical or Biological stimuli. This response to, environmental stimuli is called Irritability. Plants respond to external factors like light, water, temperature other organisms, pollutants etc. Al organisms are aware of their surroundings and is called consciousness. Human beings has self consciousness except patients.