What is the difference between living and nonliving characteristics

Metabolism Reaction like anabolism and catabolism occurs. No metabolic changes occurs in non-living things. Growth All living things undergo a regulated growth. Non-living things do not grow. Evolution Living things go through evolution. Non-living things do not undergo evolution. Survival Depends on food, water and air for survival. Does not depend on anything for survival. Life-span Have a certain life span, after which they die.

There is no such thing like life span. Living things are the organism, that is alive. They are made up of a small unit of the structure known as cells, which form tissues.

Different tissues, in turn, combine to form organs and when all these organs function together as an integrated unit, called as an organ system, which functions in something that has a life. They are human beings, plants, insects, birds, animals, fungi, bacteria, algae, protozoa, etc. There are some traits which are common in all living things, which are:.

Non-living things refer to those things, which are not alive, i. They do not show any trait of life, such as Reproduction, growth and development, respiration, metabolism, adaptation, responsiveness, movement, etc. They are created or produced from non-living materials, such as wood, plastic, iron, metals, leather, cotton, etc. The significant differences between living and non-living things are discussed in the points given below:.

For example, mango, potato, rose, butterfly, elephant, tiger, and cat. It is the process of taking in food. All living beings require food for energy to perform different activities. Food also helps in the growth and repair of the body. Animals obtain ready-made food in the form of milk, bread, meat, egg, vegetable, and fruits.

However, green plants prepare their food by the process of photosynthesis using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and nutrients and water from the soil.

You are familiar with the growth of a baby into an adult. Similarly, a seed grows into a plant. Growth is a permanent and irreversible process. All living things grow, whereas non living things do not grow. The pattern of growth, however, is different in plants and animals. Growth, if present in non living things, then it is due to external factors. For example, during the construction of a house, it grows, but it is due to the builder working on it. If builders stop working, then the house will not be able to grow further by its efforts.

It is the process of removal of waste material from the body. Accumulation of waste material inside the body is harmful to all living beings. Thus, it is removed from the body of animals in the form of urine, sweat, and carbon dioxide. In the case of plants, carbon dioxide and water-vapors are removed from the pores present on the leaves. If somebody asks you, what is one of the most unique features or characteristics of life or living things that differentiate them from non living things?

Then your answer will be a reproduction. This is the ability of all living organisms to produce young ones of their kind. For example, a hen lays eggs, which hatch into chicks, which grow into hens or rooster. A dog gives birth to puppies that grow into dogs or bitches. Similarly, mango tree produces fruits which bear seeds which give rise to new mango trees. But, you can never make a table or chair to do this. Lifecycle of Hen. Hen with her newborn chicks.

It is the process of breathing in oxygen from the air and giving out carbon dioxide. Animals and plants use oxygen to produce energy from the food consumed or produced by them. Living beings utilize this energy to perform various activities. Living things show movement. Every day you see the animals, birds, insects and human beings are moving from one place to another.

This type of movement is called locomotion. Animals move for two main reasons — in search of food and to escape from enemies. Some animals like a hydra and a sponge do not move from place to place in search of food. They are fixed to the ground and catch food with the help of long structures called tentacles.

Most plants are fixed into the soil. They are unable to carry out locomotion, but show movement. In plants, the stem moves upward and sidewards, to help leaves to get more sunlight.

The roots of a plant grow downward and sidewards in the soil to provide support and to search for nutrients and water. A thing can be either living or non-living so all the things which do not fall in the category of a living thing is a non-living thing for example a table, book, a stone, water etc.

Non-living things may exhibit one or two characteristics of a living thing but life displays all the characteristics of a living thing. A non-living thing does not show any growth. A non-living thing cannot reproduce and is unable to respond to any forms of stimuli. Thus, we can summarise the definition of a non-living thing by saying that a non-living object does not grow, eat, breathe, reproduce or respond to stimuli.

Some examples of nonliving objects are rocks, volcanoes, soil, tables, chairs, and toy cars. Thus, we can conclude by saying that both are just opposite to each other.

It is important to mention that few non-living things like cloud, fire and water may exhibit one or two properties on living things but, this do not make them a living thing. Living things are complex in nature and in attributes than compared to non-living things.

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