Final answer:
Abiotic factors are nonliving components of the environment, like sunlight and water, and do not have cells. Biotic factors are living things composed of cells and are influenced by abiotic factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abiotic factors are nonliving. c) Abiotic factors cannot have cells.
In ecology, the environment of an organism is made up of abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors are the nonliving components that play a crucial role in the ecosystem, such as sunlight, temperature, water, and soil. These factors do not contain cells, because they are not living organisms. Living things, both plants and animals, are considered biotic factors and are characterized by the presence of cells, which are the basic units of life. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells and the cellular activity of these organisms is often influenced by their interactions with abiotic factors. For instance, plant cells need water to perform photosynthesis, which is an abiotic factor that impacts the biotic organism's survival and functions. Understanding the distinction between these two types of environmental factors is fundamental in the study of ecology, as it helps explain how living organisms interact with the nonliving parts of their habitat.