Final answer:
Cells perform five essential life functions: requiring energy, showing irritability, reproducing, developing, and maintaining a stable internal environment. These functions are critical for the survival and health of any living organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
All living organisms are built from cells, and these cells perform essential functions that are necessary for life. Cells share common life functions, regardless of the organism they belong to. These functions can be categorized into five key areas:
- Requires Energy: Cells must break down nutrients to obtain energy, and this energy is essential for maintaining cellular function.
- Irritability: Cells respond to their environment through immediate sensitivity and response to stimuli, a function known as irritability.
- Reproduction: Cells have the capability to replicate themselves, ensuring the continuation of life.
- Development: In multicellular organisms, cells undergo development, which is a programmed series of changes leading to growth and differentiation.
- Maintaining a Stable Internal Environment: Cells actively regulate their internal conditions to stay functional and healthy despite external fluctuations.
Understanding these life functions is fundamental to comprehending how cells operate and contribute to the larger organism's survival and health. Different types of cells are specialized to perform these functions effectively, contributing to the overall working of the human body and other living organisms.