Final answer:
An organism is a living thing, classified as such due to specific characteristics, including the ability to respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow, and adapt. They are interconnected primarily through ecological interactions and share atoms with non-living things like rocks. Classification systems like taxonomy help organize and understand the diversity of organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organism is classified as a living thing due to several shared characteristics that define life, including order, sensitivity or response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation/homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution. Considering these shared properties, organisms interconnect with each other through various ecological interactions and evolutionary relationships. They can affect each other's survival through predation, competition, and mutualistic relationships. Organisms and rocks, while vastly different since rocks are non-living, do share the basic constituent of matter: atoms. Additionally, minerals from rocks can become a part of the life cycle of organisms through processes like erosion and nutrient cycling, providing unifying elements between living and non-living components of the environment.
The Interconnectedness of Organisms
Organisms are deeply interconnected through their environments and ecological roles. They participate in food webs, contribute to biogeochemical cycles, and share a common life history originating from a common ancestor. These relationships form the basis of ecosystems and ecological balance.
Classification and Organization of Life
A comprehensive classification system, such as taxonomy, helps scientists study organisms by organizing them into a hierarchical structure. Relatedness between different species and organisms is often depicted using phylogenetic trees, providing insights into the evolutionary paths of organisms and their genetic relationships.