Which of the following is NOT a property of life?
A) Organisms reproduce their own kind.
B) Organisms take in energy and use it to perform all of life’s activities.
C) Populations of organisms rarely change over time.
D) Living things exhibit complex but ordered organization.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Correct Answer:
C) Populations of organisms rarely change over time.
Explanation:
Life is characterized by a set of fundamental properties that distinguish living organisms from non-living things. These properties include reproduction, energy utilization, complex organization, growth and development, response to stimuli, homeostasis, and evolutionary adaptation. Let’s analyze the given options to determine which one is not a property of life.
- Reproduction (Option A) – All living organisms reproduce to ensure the continuation of their species. Whether through asexual reproduction (e.g., bacteria dividing through binary fission) or sexual reproduction (e.g., humans producing offspring), reproduction is a universal property of life.
- Energy Utilization (Option B) – Life depends on energy. Organisms take in energy from their environment and use it to fuel biological processes. For example, plants photosynthesize to convert sunlight into chemical energy, while animals consume food to obtain energy for survival and growth.
- Complex but Ordered Organization (Option D) – Living organisms exhibit an intricate and highly organized structure. Cells, the basic units of life, are arranged in an orderly fashion to form tissues, organs, and organ systems. Even microscopic bacteria have organized cellular components necessary for life functions.
- Evolution and Adaptation (Option C – Incorrect Statement) – This option incorrectly suggests that populations of organisms “rarely change over time,” which contradicts the principle of evolution. In reality, populations continuously evolve through natural selection and genetic changes. Over generations, species adapt to their environment, leading to biodiversity. The theory of evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin, explains how species undergo changes through mutations, gene flow, and environmental pressures. For example, the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria demonstrates rapid evolutionary change.
Thus, option C is incorrect because populations of organisms do change over time, which is a fundamental characteristic of life.