Characteristics of living beings

The definition of living beings describes them as organisms of complex molecular organization characterized by developing multiple and different communications, both internal (within their own anatomical structures) and external (with the environment and other living beings with which they are related).

In addition, it is possible to define the biological composition of these living beings, since each and every one of them is made up of four very abundant bioelements in nature, namely:

• Carbon.
• Hydrogen.
• Oxygen.
• Nitrogen.

If you are wondering how it is possible that from simple bioelements, living beings have been able to evolve and survive in the different corners of the planet, continue reading the next sections of this article, in which you will discover the main characteristics of beings alive .

Beyond the vital functions of living beings (nutrition, relationship and reproduction), multiple characteristics allow us to recognize living beings within the composition of nature. Among the characteristics of living beings , the following stand out:

• Cell organization, homeostasis and anatomical structure.
• Reproduction and genetic inheritance.
• Development, growth and death.
• Food and metabolism.
• Breathing.
• Interaction with the environment.
• Evolution and adaptation.

In the next sections we will detail each and every one of these characteristics, to better understand what defines and makes living beings so surprising.

If we use a microscope to know in the smallest detail the organization and structure of living beings, we will discover that cells flood each of its corners. These are considered the smallest element within the complex structure of living beings . However, despite their microscopic size, cells are really complex and constitute the first link in the levels of organization of living beings , in which these cells are grouped to form tissues, they do so to give rise to vital organs, and the organs in turn constitute systems with diverse functions within the anatomy of the living being.

Now that we already know what the cellular organization and general structure of living beings consist of, it is important to highlight how the biological process of homeostasis allows this organization to be kept in balance. It is a surprising and complex biological mechanism based on the self-regulation of the concentration of the chemical elements that constitute living beings at their different levels of organization.

Reproduction is, without a doubt, one of the most striking and important characteristics of living beings. It is vital for the survival of the many species of living beings that inhabit the Earth, since, thanks to it, each and every living organism is capable of multiplying their number of existing individuals and thus creating new generations, at the same time. time they pass on their genetic information (genetic inheritance).

There are a great variety of types of reproduction, which are mainly grouped into sexual reproduction (requiring the intervention of two individuals of different sex) and asexual reproduction (mating between individuals is not necessary). For example, here you can meet Plants with asexual reproduction: characteristics and examples .

For individuals to be able to carry out their other vital functions, after the reproduction of their parents and the consequent creation of new living organisms, these will follow marked development and growth patterns.

Each living being contains in its genetic material , all the information necessary to develop and grow , acquiring energy and matter from the environment, which it is responsible for transforming inside its body for its use. The life of every living being is biologically destined to end at a certain moment, death being one more natural process within their characteristics.

Here you can learn about The life cycle of a frog: stages and images , to know a simple example of these characteristics of living beings.

Through food, living beings fulfill one of their three vital functions, since without nutrition it is not possible to grow and develop. For this, numerous and different types of food (autotrophic or heterotrophic) allow living beings to acquire the necessary nutrients to develop their tissues and organs, which serve as energy to the cells that compose them. From them, a surprising enzymatic machinery is responsible for transforming and transporting usable and vital energy products to the different parts of the body.

Subsequently, the excretion process will be in charge of complying with the elimination of waste substances, those that the body itself cannot assimilate or is not beneficial, but that will continue to be useful within the cycles of nutrients and chains or networks. trophic .

Learn more about the feeding of living beings with these other AgroCorrn posts about Autotrophic organisms: what they are, characteristics and examples and Heterotrophic organisms: what they are, characteristics and examples .

The third vital function of every living being is respiration. Through it, organisms are capable of capturing gases from different physical media (atmosphere and water), with the ultimate goal of incorporating certain chemical molecules into their cells, tissues and organs. The great diversity of living beings that exist on the planet is directly related to the diversity of types of respiratory organs that exist, such as the gills of fish, the lungs of mammals, tracheae of insects, the skin pores of amphibians. or the stomata of plants.

To expand this interesting information, you can consult each of the types of respiration in this set of AgroCorrn articles:

• +40 animals that breathe through gills .
• +105 animals that breathe through lungs .
• Animals with tracheal respiration: examples and names .
• 16 animals that breathe through the skin .
• What are stomata of plants .

To ensure their survival, in addition to fulfilling their vital functions, living beings need to interact with the environment that surrounds them. In this way, they are able to respond to different stimuli (chemical and sensory), counting on the development of specific organs or simply with cells responsible for emitting and receiving signals from the environment and other organisms.

This surprising communication ability of some living beings, specifically animals, is reflected in the existence of sense organs and a cognitive nervous system that allows them to receive and transmit information abroad. Instead, plants use other mechanisms to relate to the environment and thus, for example, avoid growing near other organisms that could damage them or even “respect” the sunlight catchment area of ​​other plants. If you want to know more about these mechanisms of chemical interaction of plants, you can consult this interesting article about a very widespread question: Do plants feel pain?

Likewise, the relationship of living beings with their environment includes interaction with other living beings , to learn more about this topic you can enter this link on Interspecific Relations: types and examples .

The different and interesting characteristics of living beings that we have been discovering throughout this article are the result of millions of years of biological evolution .

In nature, nothing happens haphazardly or without meaning, and the characteristics of living beings are constituted as one more instrument of survival, allowing the different organisms and elements of nature to remain in balance and fulfill their biological functions. Thus, the adaptation of living beings to the environment in which they inhabit is logical and effective thanks to the biological characteristics that define them.