Final answer:
Living organisms have seven characteristics: order, sensitivity or response to the environment, reproduction, growth and development, regulation or homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
To be classified as a living thing, an object must have all seven of the following characteristics:
- Order: Living organisms have a complex organization of structures.
- Sensitivity or response to the environment: Organisms can detect and respond to changes in their surroundings.
- Reproduction: Living things can produce offspring.
- Growth and development: Organisms can grow and change over time.
- Regulation, homeostasis: Living organisms maintain a stable internal environment.
- Energy processing: Organisms obtain and use energy to carry out life processes.
- Evolution: Living things can change over successive generations.