Characteristics of Living Things

Study Notes

Living things exhibit order, with a highly organized structure.
Regulation is a key characteristic, where living things maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.
Living things respond to their environment, reacting to stimuli and adapting to their surroundings.
Reproduction is a fundamental characteristic, where living things produce offspring and pass on their genes.
Living things grow and develop based on the information in their genes.
Energy processing is essential for living things, converting energy to maintain internal stability.
Evolutionary adaptation allows living things to adapt to their environment over time.

Living things exhibit characteristics such as order, regulation, response to environment, reproduction, growth, and energy processing.
Non-living things lack these characteristics, but can exhibit some characteristics when attached to a living host.
Fossils are non-living but provide evidence of past life.

Biology is the study of living organisms, derived from the Greek words "bios" (life) and "logos" (study or knowledge).
Biology is divided into botany (study of plants), zoology (study of animals), physical biology (theoretical concepts), and applied biology (applied concepts).
Branches of biology include anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, paleontology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and environmental science.

Biology is essential for understanding various sciences, including paleontology, biostatistics, parasitology, fisheries, entomology, microbiology, agriculture, medical science, genetic engineering, biochemistry, environmental science, marine biology, and forestry.
These fields of study have significant practical applications in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and conservation.