To determine whether an organism is living or dead, biologists use a list of characteristics that living organisms must display.

Living organisms: Respire show Irritability (or sensitivity to their surrounding environment) Nourish themselves Grow and develop Excrete Reproduce To remember this list, one could use the word RINGER. This word gives Ringer's solution its name. This solution consists of ions and molecules that physiologists use to keep living tissues in - it keeps the cells alive. Here is a more 'in-depth' meaning of each characteristic: Respiration is the chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy. Irritability (or sensitivity) is the ability to detect or sense changes in the environment (stimuli) and to make responses. Nutrition is the taking in of nutrients, which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them. Excretion is the removal of toxic materials, waste products from metabolism, and substances in excess of requirement from organisms.

 Reproduction is the process that makes more of the same kind of organism.