The characteristics of living things are described below:
1. Structural organisation:
Living things are made up of cells, which are the building blocks of the body.
2. Movement and response to stimuli:
Living things respond to a stimuli. Example: Leaves of touch-me-not curl up when touched. Here, touch is the stimulus and curling up of leaves is the response.
3. Growth:
Living things grow. Example: A child grows into an adult.
4. Excretion:
Living things remove wastes from their body by the process of excretion.
5. Respiration:
Living things have the ability to respire. Breathing is a part of respiration.
6. Reproduction:
Living things have the ability to reproduce.
7. Life span and death:
All living things follow a cycle of growth and development in which an organism takes birth, grows into an adult, grows old and dies.