Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/12/2011

Question
hello i am stuck with some homework please can you help me the question is why is a flame not living and an egg is? i know the characteristics of a living thing I'm just not Shaw which ones the flame has and which ones it doesn't have thank you.

Answer
Dear Domenica,

I can't do your homework for you, but I can help you by listing the characteristics that an organism must have to be considered "alive."

1. Organization of structure (anatomy)
2. Capacity to generate more organisms like themselves (reproduction)
3. Growth and development
4. Ability to utilize energy to do work (metabolism)
5. Response to environmental stimuli (reaction)
6. Regulatory mechanisms to keep the internal environment within tolerable limits (homeostasis)
7. Populations that change in gene composition over time (evolution)

You can probably go through this list and determine for yourself which ones are shown by and egg, and which by a flame.  Or not.

Good luck!

Dana