Question

When you remove your hand on touching a hot object, this can be said to be a defining characteristic of a living thing. What is it called?

Answer 1

To classify objects as living scientifically, it has to follow some criterias. These are:

• Growth
• Reproduction
• Metabolism
• Cellular Organisation
• Consciousness

Out of these, the last three are known as defining characteristics. These are the properties that all living things have.
When you remove your hand from a hot object, you are sensing and reacting to your surroundings. This is called response to stimuli or consciousness.