organismi

Organismi is the plural form of organism in several languages and is used in biology to refer to living beings that are organized as integrated units. An organism is a living system that may consist of a single cell or many cells. Organisms carry out essential life processes such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli, and they maintain homeostasis through regulatory mechanisms. They can adapt to their environment through evolution and interact with other organisms in ecosystems.

Organisms vary greatly in size and complexity, from unicellular microbes to multicellular plants and animals. They are broadly categorized as cellular organisms, which possess cells organized into tissues and organs, and each cell carries out metabolic functions. In modern biology, life is divided into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya; within Eukarya, major groups include protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Some definitions exclude viruses from the ranks of organisms because they lack independent metabolism outside a host.

Organisms participate in ecosystems as producers, consumers, and decomposers. They exchange energy and nutrients with their surroundings, form relationships with other living beings, and respond to environmental changes. Reproduction can be asexual or sexual, and heredity is based on DNA or RNA in most organisms. The study of organisms, their diversity, and their relationships—through fields such as taxonomy, genetics, and ecology—is central to biology and helps explain life on Earth.