The characteristics of life are a set of features that define what is considered to be alive. While there is no single agreed-upon list of characteristics, there are several common traits that are often used to define life. Here are some of the key characteristics of life as we know it:

• Order: All living things are highly ordered and structured. They have cells, tissues, and organs that work together to carry out specific functions.

• Sensitivity or response to the environment: All living things can respond to their surroundings. They can sense changes in their environment and respond to them in order to maintain homeostasis.

• Reproduction: All living things are capable of reproducing, either sexually or asexually. This allows them to pass on their genetic material to the next generation.

• Growth and development: All living things grow and develop over time. They start as a single cell and eventually become a fully-formed organism.

• Regulation: All living things have regulatory mechanisms that allow them to maintain homeostasis. This includes things like temperature regulation, pH balance, and nutrient balance.

• Homeostasis: All living things are able to maintain a stable internal environment, even in the face of changing external conditions.

• Energy processing: All living things require energy to carry out their life processes. They are able to obtain and use energy from their environment in order to carry out these processes.

• Adaptation through evolution: All living things are capable of evolving over time in response to changes in their environment. This allows them to better survive and reproduce in changing conditions.

It is important to note that while these characteristics are common to most living things, there are exceptions and variations. For example, viruses exhibit some of the characteristics of living entities but lack others, such as the ability to reproduce on their own.