Chapter 1, Problem 1TQ

Summary Introduction

An organism is characterized by any individual entity which shows the properties of life. Living organisms are categorized by taxonomy into particular groups like multicellular plants, animals and fungi, or single-celled microbes such as bacteria, protists and archaea.

Answer to Problem 1TQ

All living organisms, comprised of one or more cells, require energy in order to perform life processes. They grow, respond to the surroundings, retain a stable internal environment, and reproduce.

Therefore, options (a), (c), and (e) are correct.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reasons for the correct statement:

A living organism must possess the following characteristics: requires energy to perform life processes, reproduce, comprise either a single or more cells, maintain a stable internal environment, and evolve as groups. In the given options, oak tree, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, and teacher exhibit the characteristics of life. Therefore, they are considered as living organisms.

Option (a) is given as “an oak tree”.

Option (c) is given as “the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats”.

Option (e) is given as “your teacher”.

Hence, options (a), (c), and (e) are correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (b) is given as “an influenza virus”.

An influenza virus meets only one criterion, which is evolving as groups. Other than this, it meets no criteria of life. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “A diamond”. 

A diamond encounters no criteria of life. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (b) and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

An oak tree, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, and a teacher are considered as living organisms, as they are exhibiting the characteristics of life.