Final answer:
The progenote, or the first living organism, introduced many features found in modern organisms, including homeostasis, organization, metabolism, growth, development, evolution, environmental sensitivity, and reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first living organism, commonly referred to as the progenote, is thought to have given rise to many of the fundamental characteristics that are common to modern life-forms. These characteristics include: homeostasis, which is the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment; organization at multiple levels, starting from cells; metabolism, which involves using energy to support life functions; capacity for growth and development; ability to adapt and evolve in response to environmental pressures; sensitivity to environmental stimuli; and the crucial ability to reproduce. These traits are intrinsic to life and exemplify the basic principles through which a single, simple ancestor has evolved into the vast diversity of organisms observed today. The evolution from a common ancestral cell to today's biodiversity was a complex process involving adaptation and natural selection, where less successful populations became extinct, and more successful ones flourished, leading to the speciation and complex life forms we see in the present day.