Identify the CORRECT statement about the characteristics of living organisms among the following.
(i) Living things grow with increase in mass and number of cells.
(ii) Metabolism is a two-staged process in living organisms.
(iii) ‘Response to stimuli’ is a trait of living organisms.
(A) Only (i)
(B) Only (ii)
(C) Both (i) and (iii)
(D) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(D) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(D) (i), (ii) and (iii)
Explanation:
Growth is defined as an irreversible increase in the number of cells or mass of the living structure. In plants, growth occurs continuously throughout life. However, in animals, growth is restricted to a certain period only, but cell division occurs in certain tissues to replace the old and worn out cells. The sum total of anabolic and catabolic reactions occurring in our body is called metabolism. All living organisms are made up of chemical compounds which are constantly synthesised by metabolic reactions.
All organisms, prokaryotes or eukaryotes, have the ability to sense the conditions in their surroundings and respond to these stimuli which can be physical, chemical or biological.