What Is Life? Quiz

What are the defining characteristics of life according to the text?

capacity for homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction

Why do viruses make the definition of life difficult?

They replicate only in host cells

Where does life exist on Earth?

air, water, and soil

When did life originate, according to the text?

at least 3.5 billion years ago Signup and view all the answers

According to ancient theories, what were living things composed of?

four eternal elements Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the system of binomial nomenclature for classifying living things?

Carl Linnaeus Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of nucleic acids in living organisms?

They carry the information needed by each species, including the instructions to make each type of protein. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of large molecules found in all living things?

Proteins and nucleic acids Signup and view all the answers

What is the structural and functional unit of life?

The cell Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of smaller organisms like prokaryotes?

Small single cells Signup and view all the answers

What are some characteristics of larger organisms, mainly eukaryotes?

They can consist of single cells or may be multicellular with more complex structure. Signup and view all the answers

Why has the definition of life been a challenge for scientists and philosophers?

Life is a process, not a substance, and there is a lack of knowledge of the characteristics of living entities. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics used in most current descriptive definitions of life?

Homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, and response to stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis in the context of life?

Regulation of the internal environment to maintain a constant state Signup and view all the answers

What is metabolism in the context of life?

Transformation of energy, used to convert chemicals into cellular components and to decompose organic matter Signup and view all the answers

What is adaptation in the context of life?

The evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes better able to live in its habitat Signup and view all the answers

What makes the classification of viruses difficult in the context of defining life?

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

How did Carl Linnaeus contribute to the classification of living things?

Carl Linnaeus developed the system of binomial nomenclature for classifying living things in the 1740s. Signup and view all the answers

What were some ancient theories about the composition of living things?

Ancient theories, such as Empedocles's materialism, asserted that living things were composed of eternal elements, while Aristotle's hylomorphism suggested that living things have souls and embody both form and matter. Signup and view all the answers

What are the defining characteristics of life according to the text?

Homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction are the defining characteristics of life. 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

What are the two types of large molecules found in all living things?

Proteins and nucleic acids Signup and view all the answers

What are the defining characteristics used in most current descriptive definitions of life?

Homeostasis, organization, metabolism, growth, adaptation, and response to stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Why has the definition of life been a challenge for scientists and philosophers?

Life is a process, not a substance, and there is a lack of knowledge of the characteristics of living entities that may have developed outside Earth. Signup and view all the answers