Biology is the study of life. There are several key characteristics that define living things: (1) Organization - all living things are made of cells that are organized into tissues, organs and organ systems, (2) Response to stimuli - living things respond to environmental stimuli, (3) Homeostasis - living things regulate internal conditions to maintain stability, (4) Growth and development - living things increase in size and develop through cell specialization, (5) Reproduction - living things produce new individuals of their own kind, (6) Evolution - species change over time through genetic variation and natural selection, (7) Metabolism - living things require energy to carry out life processes.