Question

Short / Long answer type questions .
What are the basic properties of living things ? What arguments would you present to show that (a) a crystal, and (b) a candle flame are not alive, and that a mango tree is alive?

Answer 1

There are certain distinctive characteristics by which we try to define “living.” The basic characteristics of living things include growth, metabolism, reproduction, self-organize, self-replicate, interact, ability to sense and react.

A crystal or a candle flame in no way show these basic characteristics of life. Hence, they both are non-living things.

While mango tree shows growth, metabolism as well is capable of reproducing. It responds to external stimuli like water, sunlight etc. It has the ability to sense temperature, humidity, availability of sunlight etc. Hence, it is an example of a living thing and considered alive.