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Characteristics Of Living Things

Plants and animals are the two main groups of living things. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. The process by which animals take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide is called respiration. There are things that make living things different from things that don’t live. These things are true of all living things:

1.    Feeding: All living things need food to survive. This is so they can have enough energy to do their activities and stay healthy.
2.    Movement: This is also known as locomotion. Everything that lives moves in some way. Some living things can move parts of their bodies or their whole bodies. Other living things, like plants, can only move substances from one part of their bodies to another. This is also known as locomotion. Everything that lives moves in some way. Some living things can move parts of their bodies or their whole bodies. Other living things, like plants, can only move substances from one part of their bodies to another.
3.  Respiration: We also call this “breathing.” Every living thing gives off and takes in gases. Plants take in carbon (IV) oxide and give off oxygen, while animals breathe in oxygen and give off carbon (IV) oxide.
4.    Excretion: This is the way that living things get rid of waste from their bodies. Urine is the liquid waste that humans produce.
5.    Sensitivity: Every living thing is very aware of how its surroundings are changing. They are responsive to external stimuli such as light, sound, temperature, and the like.
6.    Reproduction: This is what happens when young ones are made. Every living thing can reproduce more of itself. People have babies, dogs have puppies, cats have kittens, and some plants make seeds that can grow into new plants when planted.
7.  Growth: Feeding gives all living things the energy they need to grow from small size to big size

Characteristics of non-living things

A non-living thing is anything that cannot exhibit the characteristics of living things mentioned

Some non-living things are gotten from living things, e.g., leather gotten from animal skin and paper gotten from trees. Also, some non-living things cannot be got from living things; an example is stone.

Differences between plants and animals

Although plants and animals are both living things, they are different in many ways. The differences between plants and animals are tabulated below: