How do we distinguish between living and non-living entities?

Distinguishing between living and non-living entities relies on key characteristics. Living organisms exhibit attributes such as cellular organization, metabolism, growth, response to stimuli, reproduction, and adaptation through evolution. They actively maintain internal stability, known as homeostasis. Non-living entities lack these features and don’t undergo biological processes. While non-living things may have certain organized structures, like crystals, they lack the complex, self-sustaining activities inherent in living organisms. Life is defined by dynamic processes and the ability to carry out functions necessary for survival and reproduction, setting it apart from inanimate matter.