Final answer:
Cells must obtain energy, grow and divide, maintain homeostasis, and respond to environmental stimuli to survive. They must balance the exchange of substances with the external environment and maintain ideal internal conditions. Homeostasis, energy acquisition, and cellular functions like reproduction and response to stimuli are vital for cell survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
Essential Functions for Cell Survival
Cells, which are the fundamental units of life, must perform a variety of functions in order to survive. These include obtaining energy from food to carry out life processes, growth and division, and responding to environmental stimuli. A cell's need to quickly pass substances in and out dictates how large it can be, as its outer surface acts as the boundary for this exchange. To keep functioning, a cell also needs to maintain homeostasis, which involves ideal internal conditions like proper temperature, pH level, and chemical concentrations.
Additionally, cells need to accommodate their structures and metabolic activities for survival. Organisms have developed regulatory mechanisms to maintain constant internal conditions, an ability known as homeostasis, despite environmental changes. Even in the case of certain plant cells, their most significant contributions to an organism might occur after they undergo programmed cell death, particularly in functions like water transport and structural integrity.
Finally, cell functions such as irritability, or the ability to respond to stimuli, and the processes of reproduction and development are critical for the propagation and evolution of life. It's important to note that all living organisms are composed of cells, which are integral in maintaining a stable internal environment and executing all essential life processes.