While Earth is the only known planet to contain life, other life forms are hypothesized to be present within the solar system and beyond. The earliest evidence humans have found for a life form is a 3.7 billion year old biogenic graphite. Life on Earth is believed to have started at least 4.25 billion years ago, around 290 million years after the Earth’s formation. These divisions include domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. All organisms must be composed of cells, metabolize, reproduce, and respond to their environment. These include efficiency, calculability, predictability and standardization, and control. For example, living things respond to changes in light, heat, sound, and chemical. These classifications are divided into categories which are further divided by their subcategories. Characteristics of Life Describes characteristics shared by all living organisms. According to Ritzer, the McDonaldization of society is a phenomenon that occurs when society, its institutions, and its organizations are adapted to have the same characteristics that are found in fast-food chains. All living things are able to respond to stimuli in the external environment. Organisms are classified based on their shared characteristics and common descent.
from publication: Wanted Dead or Alive Extraterrestrial Life Forms.
#What are the characteristics of life download#
chemicals are substances with unique molecular composition that are used in or produced by chemical processes. Download Table Biological characteristics of life and their thermodynamic analogues. the cell is considered the basic unit of life as it is the smallest unit that can carry it out functions of life. Multicellular beings, such as humans, often have other organisms living within their bodies. 10 Characteristics Of Living Organisms cellular composition. Viruses, which are infectious agents, usually aren’t considered because they don’t use energy, don’t grow, can’t reproduce independently and are unresponsive to the environment. Single-celled organisms such as bacteria are considered living things since they possess all of the characteristics.