An organism is an individual form of life that is capable of growing and reproducing, and have one or more cells. Animals, plants and bacterium are all organisms. All of these cells come from pre-existing cells, and multi-cellular organisms have specific cells for different functions. Inside the body, organelles or organs work together to sustain life. Organisms can also respond to stimuli, grow and maintain homeostasis.
A defining parameter of all organisms is their life span. Some organisms only live for one day while others continue living for thousands of years. Plants and fungi have the longest life span of all organisms. Ninety-nine percent of all organisms that have existed on this earth are now extinct. Viruses are not classified as organisms on the basis of their nucleic acid content.
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