All living organisms share several key characteristics or functions: order, sensitivity or response to the environment, reproduction, growth and development, regulation, homeostasis, and energy processing. When viewed together, these characteristics serve to define life. YSK: When you exercise on a hot day, you are likely to work up a sweat. Do you know why we sweat? Sweating helps to keep us cool. When sweat evaporates from the skin, it uses some of the body's heat energy. Sweating is one of the ways that the body maintains a stable internal environment. It helps keep the body's internal... Show more

All living organisms share several key characteristics or functions: order, sensitivity or response to the environment, reproduction, growth and development, regulation, homeostasis, and energy processing. When viewed together, these characteristics serve to define life.

YSK: When you exercise on a hot day, you are likely to work up a sweat. Do you know why we sweat? Sweating helps to keep us cool. When sweat evaporates from the skin, it uses some of the body's heat energy. Sweating is one of the ways that the body maintains a stable internal environment. It helps keep the body's internal temperature constant.    
When the body's internal environment is stable, the condition is called homeostasis.    
All living organisms have ways of maintaining homeostasis. They have mechanisms for controlling such factors as their internal temperature, water balance, and acidity. Homeostasis is necessary for normal life processes that take place inside cells. If an organism can't maintain homeostasis, normal life processes are disrupted. Disease or even death may result.    

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