Essential Characteristics of Life Quiz

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Define life descriptively based on its biological processes and capacity.

Life is distinguished by its capacity for homeostasis, organization, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction.

Why do viruses make the definition of life difficult?

Viruses replicate only in host cells, blurring the distinction between living and non-living matter.

Where does life exist on Earth?

Life exists in air, water, and soil, forming many ecosystems in the biosphere.

What are extremophiles and where are they found?

Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in harsh environments, and they are found in some ecosystems on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two ancient theories about the nature of life and living things?

Ancient theories include Empedocles's materialism, which asserts that life is composed of four eternal elements, and Aristotle's hylomorphism, which asserts that living things have souls and embody both form and matter. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the descriptive qualities that define life?

The descriptive qualities that define life include the capacity for homeostasis, organization, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

Why do viruses pose a challenge in defining life?

Viruses replicate only in host cells, blurring the traditional boundaries of what is considered living and non-living. Signup and view all the answers

What are extremophiles and where can they be found?

Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in harsh environments, and they can be found in various extreme habitats on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

According to Empedocles's materialism, what was life composed of?

Empedocles's materialism asserted that life was composed of four eternal elements. Signup and view all the answers

When did life originate, and what was the result?

Life originated at least 3.5 billion years ago, resulting in a universal common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

Define life descriptively based on its capacity and characteristics mentioned in the text.

Life is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

Why do viruses make the definition of life difficult?

Viruses replicate only in host cells, making it challenging to categorize them as living or non-living. Signup and view all the answers

Where does life exist on Earth according to the text?

Life exists all over the Earth in air, water, and soil, with many ecosystems forming the biosphere. Signup and view all the answers

According to ancient theories, how was life composed?

According to ancient theories, life was composed of four eternal elements (Empedocles's materialism) or living things have souls and embody both form and matter (Aristotle's hylomorphism). Signup and view all the answers