What is a living organism?
A living organism is primarily physicochemical material that demonstrates a high degree of complexity,
is capable of self-regulation, possesses a metabolism, and perpetuates itself through time. To many biologists,
life is an arbitrary stage in the growing complexity of matter, with no sharp dividing line between the living
and non-living worlds.
Living substance is composed of a highly structured array of macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids,
nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, as well as smaller organic and inorganic molecules. A living organism
has built-in regulatory mechanisms and interacts with the environment to sustain its structural and functional
integrity. All reactions occurring within an individual living unit are called its metabolism. Specific molecules
containing information in their structure are utilized both in the regulation of internal reactions and in the
production of new living units.
A living organism is primarily physicochemical material that demonstrates a high degree of complexity,
is capable of self-regulation, possesses a metabolism, and perpetuates itself through time. To many biologists,
life is an arbitrary stage in the growing complexity of matter, with no sharp dividing line between the living
and non-living worlds.
Living substance is composed of a highly structured array of macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids,
nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, as well as smaller organic and inorganic molecules. A living organism
has built-in regulatory mechanisms and interacts with the environment to sustain its structural and functional
integrity. All reactions occurring within an individual living unit are called its metabolism. Specific molecules
containing information in their structure are utilized both in the regulation of internal reactions and in the
production of new living units.
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