organismo

An organismo, or organism in English, is a living being that can carry out the essential processes of life. Organisms range from single cells to complex multicellular systems. They maintain homeostasis, grow, reproduce, and adapt to their environment.

Key features include cellular organization, metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, response to stimuli, and the capacity to evolve over generations.

Taxonomic diversity places life into three domains—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Most multicellular organisms are eukaryotes. Within Eukarya are the kingdoms of plants, animals, fungi, and various protists. Unicellular organisms include bacteria, archaea, and many protists.

Organisms obtain energy through photosynthesis or ingestion, convert it for cellular work, and expel waste. Reproduction may be asexual, sexual, or both, allowing genetic material to be passed to offspring.

In ecology, organisms interact with their environment and other species, forming ecosystems in which energy flows and matter recycles. Some definitions exclude viruses because they cannot perform metabolism or reproduce independently, highlighting ongoing debates about the boundaries of life.

The concept of an organismo is central in biology, medicine, agriculture, and conservation, serving as a basis for studying life, health, and the relationships between organisms and their environments.