to be considered a living thing an organism must be able to - that the organism was composed of cells (either 1 or many)
- that the organism had a genetic molecule and was able to evolve (DNA is the base-unit of evolution)
- that the cell/s of the organism was/were enclosed by a cell membrane (life is self-contained)
- that the organism was able to carry out its own, self-contained, biochemical reactions
- that the organism was able to reproduce, grow and develop (pass its genetic molecule onto a future generation)
- that the organism was able to respond to its environment (either from a sensory, neurological or evolutionary way)