Which amongst the following is a defining feature of all living organisms?
a. Growth
b. Metabolism
c. Reproduction
d. Self-consciousness
e. Cellular organization
 

Defining feature is a feature that is present unexceptionally in all living organisms and is never present in any non-living things. All living organisms are made of chemicals. All plants, animals, fungi and microbes exhibit metabolism. The sum total of all the chemical reactions occurring in our body is metabolism. No non-living object exhibits metabolism. Therefore, it is a defining feature. Cellular organisation of the body is the defining feature of life forms. Self-consciousness is found only in humans and hence not a defining feature. Reproduction though it is found only in living organisms but there are some organisms that do not reproduce. Hence, reproduction is not a defining feature. Growth is shown both by living organisms and non-living things. Therefore, not a defining feature.