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Home
Science
Living and Non-Living Things

Living Things and Non-Living Things

Biology is the story of life on earth. Biology is the story of evolution of living organisms on earth. The living world comprises an amazing diversity of living organisms. The living world is wonderful. Living organisms reside in extraordinary habitats (place where organism lives). It may be cold mountains, deciduous forests, oceans, fresh water lakes, deserts or hot springs. When we try to define ‘living’, we conventionally look for distinctive characteristics exhibited by living organisms. Growth, reproduction, ability to sense environment and mount a suitable response are some of the unique features of living organisms.

1.0Characteristics of Living Things

All the living things have some common characteristics (or features) which make them different from non-living things. The characteristics of living things are given below

(i) They are made up of cells.

(ii) They need food, air and water.

(iii) They can grow.

(iv) They can move by themselves.

(v) They can respond to stimuli (or changes around them). They are sensitive.

(vi) They respire (release energy from food).

(vii) They excrete (get rid of waste materials from their body).

(viii) They can reproduce.

(ix) They have a definite life-span (after which they die).

(x) They show adaptability.

2.0Differences Between Living and Non-Living Things


Living things


Non-living things

1

Living things need food, air and water.

1

Non-living things do not need food, air or water.

2

Living things grow.

2

Non-living things do not grow.

3

Living things can move on their own.

3

Non-living things cannot move on their own.

4

Living things respond to stimuli (changes around them). They are sensitive.

4

Non-living things do not respond to stimuli. They are not sensitive.

5

Living things reproduce. 

5

Non-living things do not reproduce.

6

Living things respire. They release energy from food.

6

Non-living things do not respire.

7

Living things excrete. They get rid of waste materials from their body.

7

Non-living things do not excrete.

8

Living things have a definite life-span after which they die.

8

Non-living things do not have definite life span.

Diversity in Living Organisms

Biodiversity refers to all the diverse plants, animals and micro-organisms on the earth. 

Life began on earth about 4.2 million years ago since then it has undergone numerous changes and diversification. Today there are more than 5 million types of living organisms on earth. Every living organism is unique in itself. This uniqueness of individuals is the diversity in life forms. Despite their unimaginable diversification, the living organisms are inter-related structurally and functionally because of their common origin. It has been proved that complex organisms evolved from simple ones by slow and gradual changes. 

3.0Also Read

Structure of Heart

Cell

Hardy-Wisenberg Principle

Heartbeat

Theories of Organic Evolution

Blood

Electrocardiogram (ECG) & Blood Pressure

Features of Living Things

Blood Fluid and Their Circulation

Table of Contents


  • 1.0Characteristics of Living Things
  • 2.0Differences Between Living and Non-Living Things
  • 2.1Diversity in Living Organisms
  • 3.0Also Read

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