Question:
The defining feature of life forms depends on the following
The defining feature of life forms depends on the following
Show Hint
Remember that while isolated metabolic reactions in vitro are "living reactions", they do not constitute "living organisms" because they lack cellular organization.
Always look for cellular structure as the absolute prerequisite for a living system.
Always look for cellular structure as the absolute prerequisite for a living system.
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
- Consciousness is the defining property of living organism
- Cellular organization of the body required for metabolism
- An outside body metabolic reaction in the test tube
- The kind of growth in non-living organism by accumulation of material on the surface
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the defining feature of life forms from the given biological properties.
A defining feature is a characteristic that is present in all living organisms without exception and is completely absent in non-living objects.
Step 2: Key Concepts and Approach:
We evaluate properties such as growth, metabolism, cellular organization, and consciousness to determine which one serves as an absolute defining property of life forms.
We differentiate between features of living organisms and defining properties of living organisms.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
• Growth: Living organisms grow from within (intrinsic growth), whereas non-living things like mountains and crystals grow by accumulation of material on their outer surface (extrinsic growth).
Therefore, growth is not a defining feature of life.
• Metabolism: Metabolic reactions are the sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living system.
These reactions can be performed outside the body in a cell-free system (in vitro).
An isolated metabolic reaction in a test tube is neither living nor non-living; it is simply a living reaction.
• Cellular Organization: All living systems are composed of cells, which organize metabolic pathways.
Without cellular organization, regulated metabolic processes cannot sustain life.
Hence, cellular organization of the body is the absolute defining feature required for life forms.
• Consciousness: While consciousness is a defining property of living organisms, cellular organization represents the structural basis of all life forms.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The defining structural and functional basis of life forms is cellular organization of the body required for metabolism.
The question asks to identify the defining feature of life forms from the given biological properties.
A defining feature is a characteristic that is present in all living organisms without exception and is completely absent in non-living objects.
Step 2: Key Concepts and Approach:
We evaluate properties such as growth, metabolism, cellular organization, and consciousness to determine which one serves as an absolute defining property of life forms.
We differentiate between features of living organisms and defining properties of living organisms.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
• Growth: Living organisms grow from within (intrinsic growth), whereas non-living things like mountains and crystals grow by accumulation of material on their outer surface (extrinsic growth).
Therefore, growth is not a defining feature of life.
• Metabolism: Metabolic reactions are the sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living system.
These reactions can be performed outside the body in a cell-free system (in vitro).
An isolated metabolic reaction in a test tube is neither living nor non-living; it is simply a living reaction.
• Cellular Organization: All living systems are composed of cells, which organize metabolic pathways.
Without cellular organization, regulated metabolic processes cannot sustain life.
Hence, cellular organization of the body is the absolute defining feature required for life forms.
• Consciousness: While consciousness is a defining property of living organisms, cellular organization represents the structural basis of all life forms.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The defining structural and functional basis of life forms is cellular organization of the body required for metabolism.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top AP EAPCET Botany Questions
- Plant that possess characters like ramenta, archegonia, circinate
- Identify the correct pair from the following
A. Golden algae - diatoms
B. Trichodesmium erythrium - Red Sea
C. Kieselguhr - Chrysophytes
D. Red tides of Mediterranean sea - Dinoflagellates - Assertion (A): Fertilization in Cycas is called siphonogamy and zooidogamy.
Reason (R): Male gametes are multiciliate and carried by pollen tube. - Identify the organisms based on their cell wall characteristics such as pseudomurein, mycolic acid, stiff cellulose plates, chitin.
- Find the correct matching
A) Carrot -- Flowers appear from the same point of peduncle
B) Cocos -- Flowers protected by the modified bract
C) Achyranthes -- Flowers appear in the varied lengths of pedicels
D) Cassia -- Flowers appear on the flattened peduncle
View More Questions
Top AP EAPCET Botany Questions
- Among the following fungi, which are placed under class Deuteromycetes?
(Alternaria, Aspergillus, Mucor, Claviceps, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Colletotrichum, Ustilago, Polyporus, Puccinia, Agaricus, Neurospora, Albugo, and Rhizopus) - Choose the incorrect statement among the following:
I. The present era is called “Golden era of Biology”.
II. Sexual system of classification was proposed by Theophrastus.
III. Study of Amphibians of plant kingdom are called Bryology.
IV. Recycling of nutrients takes place by parasitic petrophants. Match the terms in List-I with their correct descriptions in List-II:
\[ \begin{array}{|l|l|} \hline \textbf{List-I} & \textbf{List-II} \\ \hline \text{A) Vivipary} & \text{I) Adaptation to lower environmental stress by germinating seeds while still attached to the parent plant} \\ \text{B) Parthenogenesis} & \text{IV) Development of an embryo from an unfertilized female gamete (asexual reproduction)} \\ \text{C) Meiocytes} & \text{III) Diploid cells specialized to undergo meiosis (e.g., spermatocytes, oocytes)} \\ \text{D) Perennials} & \text{II) Bamboo flowering once at the end of its life cycle (monocarpic perennial)} \\ \hline \end{array} \]
- One acre of trees annually absorbs CO$_2$ equal to that produced by driving 26000 miles. How many people’s oxygen needs for a year does this cover?
- No. of ATP, protons and electrons required for the formation of 6NH$_3$ molecules in biological nitrogen fixation.
View More Questions
Top AP EAPCET Questions
- A body is projected from the ground at an angle of $\tan^{-1} \left( \frac{8}{7}\right)$ with the horizontal. The ratio of the maximum height attained by it to its range is
- The four quantum numbers of the valence electron of potassium are :
- A lens forms real and virtual images of an object, when the object is at $u_{1}$ and $u_{2}$ distances respectively. If the size of the virtual image is double that of the real image, then the focal length of the lens is (take, the magnification of the real image as $m$ )
- Two spheres $P$ and $Q$, each of mass $200\, g$ are attached to a string of length one metre as shown in the figure. The string and the spheres are then whirled in a horizontal circle about $O$ at a constant angular speed. The ratio of the tension in the string between $P$ and $Q$ to that of between $P$ and $O$ is $(P$ is at mid-point of the line joining $O$ and $Q$ )
- The volume of $0.02\, M$ acidified permanganate solution required for complete reaction of $60\, mL$ of $0.01\, MI^{-}$ ion solution to form $I_2$ in $mL$ is
View More Questions