Final answer:
Julianna's weight gain from 7 lbs. 3 oz. to 28 pounds is an example of the characteristic of growth and development, one of the fundamental aspects of life for living organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Julianna's increase in weight from 7 lbs. 3 oz. to 28 pounds demonstrates the characteristic of growth and development in living organisms. Growth is the process of increasing in size, which is a fundamental aspect of life. When we look at the characteristics of life, these include organization, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction. In Julianna's case, there’s a clear indication of growth, as she has increased significantly in size since birth.
It is important to understand that growth and development are critical phases in the lifecycle of humans and other living organisms, commencing from conception and continuing into adulthood. This characteristic is distinct and should not be confused with response to stimuli, homeostasis, or reproduction, which describe other processes vital to life. Homeostasis refers to the steady state of body systems that living organisms maintain, while response to stimuli is the ability to react to environmental changes. Reproduction is the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced. Since Julianna's weight gain is a part of her natural maturation process, it aligns specifically with the characteristic of growth and development.