Question

A friend argues that a car is alive because its parts form organized systems and it requires

energy (gasoline and battery power). How would you respond to your friend?

Answer 1

Although it is true that a car has its parts in an organized system and it uses fuel of some sort to run, a car doesn't have the characteristics of what classifies something as a living thing.

1. A car is not made up of cells. Living things are made of cells.

2. A car doesn't respond to its environment. Living things respond to their environment.

3. A car cannot grow and develop. Living things grow and develop.

4. A car cannot reproduce. Living things reproduce.