What is the difference between living and non-living things?
The environment comprises of both living and non-living organisms. These things play different roles in the environment.
The lesson provides the core difference between living and non-living things in a tabular form for easy comparison. Let’s find out:
What Are Living Things?
Living things refer to those creatures of nature that have life. Examples of living organisms are plants, animals, insects, birds, microorganisms, etc.
Here are the main characteristics of living things:
- Can move on their own
- Tend to grow and develop with time
- Require nutrition
- Releases energy
- Reproduce to give birth to the new organism
- Eliminate waste through excretion
- Adapt to changing environment
- Respond to the external environment
What Are Non-Living Things?
Non-living things refer to objects that do not have life. Examples of non-living organisms are bottle, pen, chair, door, computer, mobiles, etc.
These things do not show characteristics of life like reproduction, excretion, growth, and development. They are made from other non-living things.
Comparison Chart: Living Vs Non-Living Things
| Basic Terms | Living Things | Non-Living Things |
| Meaning | Refers to creatures that have life | Refer to objects or items that do not have life |
| Organization of Structures | Highly organized | No organization |
| Consciousness | Have a sense of responding to external stimuli | Have no sense |
| Homeostasis | Maintain a stable internal environment for the cell to function | Do not maintain a stable internal environment |
| Metabolism | Experience catabolism and anabolism | No metabolic changes |
| Growth | Experience growth and development with time | No growth and development |
| Evolution | Go through evolution | Do not experience the evolution |
| Survival | Depend on food, water, and air | Do not rely on anything |
| Lifespan | They live for a certain number of ages and die | Have a long lifespan |
| Examples | Plants, animals, insects, birds | Bottle, pen, chair, door, computer |
Differences between Living and Non-Living Things
- The living organism tends to grow and develop after some time whereas non-living things do not.
- Living things depend on food, air, and water for survival, unlike non-living things that survive without them.
- Living things tend to live for some years and later die while non-living things live and do not die.
- Living things undergo evolution whereas non-living things do not undergo evolution
- Living things experience catabolism and anabolism whereas non-living things do not experience metabolic changes
- Living things maintain a stable internal environment for cells to function, unlike non-living things.
- Living things have organized structures while non-living things do not have organized structures
- Living things have a sense that responds to external stimuli while non-living things do not have sense.
- Living things are those creatures with life while non-living things do not have life.
- Examples of living things are plants and animals whereas non-living things are objects like stone and wood.
Comparison Video
Summary
The core difference between living and non-living things is living things are creatures of nature that have life while non-living things are objects that do not have life.