1. Living World - part 01 - Basic principles of life




1. Living World - part 01 - Basic principles of life


Basic principles of life :


1. The living being once produced / born has to survive.

For survival, it needs energy and many chemical molecules.
For energy, it has to perform metabolism.
Metabolism is breaking of molecules (catabolism) and making of new molecules (anabolism).2. From birth onwards, organisms show tendency of growth and development. This growth is a well-orchestrated process.

You might have observed sand mounds, boulders grow, etc.
This growth is not from within and hence these are not living beings.3. Growth and development are not the processes which have unlimited time span.

At certain point of time, the molecules, organs, systems begin to loose their effective working and become old.
This is ageing process of the body.4. Life has to continue hence the organism tries to produce a young one like itself.

It is possible due to reproduction (asexual or sexual).
This ensures continuity of race. Mules, sterile worker bees do not reproduce; yet are living. Can we call reproduction as inclusive characteristic of life?5. As the body looses it's capacity to perform metabolism, the organism dies.
6. Any living being responds to thermal, chemical or biological changes in the surrounding.

This is unique property of living beings.
There is immense diversity in living organisms.
Since time immemorial, variety of organisms are living together on earth.
In order to understand the interrelations between living and non-living as well as between two living beings or groups, systematic study of these is essential.
This data is also important for various industries and agriculture.
Intensive laboratory and field studies in order to identify and classify the organisms form strong basis for meaningful use of the collected data.
If we need to study this diversity, certain aids called taxonomical aids can be used.
These includes -
herbaria
botanical gardens
museums
biodiversity parks, etc

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