What is living? · NCERT Biology

Consciousness is a defining property because:

  1. It is present in all living organisms from prokaryotes to eukaryotes
  2. Only eukaryotes can respond to stimuli via membrane receptors and nervous tissue
  3. Non-living things such as crystals can also respond to certain stimuli
  4. It is only found in organisms with a developed nervous system or brain
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Correct answer: It is present in all living organisms from prokaryotes to eukaryotes

Consciousness — the ability to sense and respond to environmental cues — is universal among all living organisms, from the simplest prokaryotes reacting to chemical gradients to complex eukaryotes with elaborate sensory systems. Because it has no exceptions among living things, it qualifies as a defining property of life.

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