If we define growth as an increase in body mass, then non-living objects like mountains and sand mounds also grow. How is this growth different from that of living organisms?
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Correct answer: Non-living growth occurs by accumulation of material on the surface
Growth in non-living objects (e.g., mountains, sand dunes) is extrinsic: material simply accumulates on the outer surface. Growth in living organisms is intrinsic, occurring from within through cell division and biosynthesis. This distinction is central to NCERT's definition of life.
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