Manifestations of life

• High Degree of Complexity and Order 


  Biological organization is based on a hierarchy of structural levels, with each level building on the levels below it.
• Reproduction


  Organisms reproduce their own kind, either asexually or sexually. Life comes only from life (BIOGENESIS).
• Growth and Development 


  Heritable programs stored in DNA direct the species-specific pattern of growth & development.
• Energy Processing/Utilization 


  Organisms take in & transform energy to do work, including the maintenance of their ordered state.
• Response to Environment 


  Organisms respond to stimuli from their environment.
• Homeostasis/Balance 


  Organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain a steady state even in the face of a fluctuating external environment.
• Evolutionary Adaptation 


  Life evolves in response to interactions between organisms & their environment.