The tiger, example of a living being.
A living being is a highly complex organism that is born, grows, reaches the capacity to reproduce and dies . These organisms are made up of a large number of atoms and molecules that constitute a system endowed with organization and in constant relationship with the environment.
Living beings can function autonomously throughout their existence and only suffer the loss of their structural properties when they die. These beings are made up of cells , inside which various chemical reactions take place that enzymes are responsible for catalyzing.
Distinctive characteristics of a living being
There are several characteristics that allow us to differentiate a living being from that which is subject to inertia. Organization (based on cells, which are its primordial entities), homeostasis (the balance that exists inside), metabolism (the conversion of energy into nutrients), irritability (response to external stimuli), adaptation (living species evolve to adapt to the environment), development (increase in size) and reproduction (the ability to generate similar copies of the same organism, either sexually or asexually) are some of the properties of living beings.
Other types of entities share several of these characteristics, but not all. Viruses also have a high degree of organization and can reproduce, although they do not have a metabolism or develop.
The most typical examples of living beings are human beings , animals (of all kinds: dogs, lions, elephants, dolphins, mosquitoes, snakes, etc.). and the plants . There are, however, other living organisms, such as fungi and bacteria .
Human beings exploit other species of living beings to satisfy their needs and interests.
The human being and its link with other species
The different cultures created by human beings share the unfortunate tendency to harm other living beings, always seeking to justify their actions so as not to face their cruel and ruthless condition. The perhaps most innocent way in which people attack nature is the killing of animals for their own food; The different species that serve as a snack for the insatiable digestive system of men are raised in conditions that the victims of wars and concentration camps could hardly envy, deprived of their freedom and condemned to become fat and then be murdered .
It is sad to think that their only consolation may be the fact that they live five times less than expected , in the best of cases, since many go through the knife shortly after being born, like calves. Human beings grow up being indirect participants in this horror, and some take the next step and become executioners. The most terrible and worrying thing is that we hide behind ridiculous and inaccurate reasons , where the word proteins is usually the protagonist.
But animals are not the only victims of our species, since the vegetables we eat do not enjoy a very natural life either. As often happens, there are groups of people who try to promote change, put an end to so much violence and begin to live in harmony with the other inhabitants of this planet ; but the structure of human societies is not compatible with respect and equality.
The dog, a living being that is an example of adaptation
Dogs are the closest example that many of us have of living beings that learn to adapt and respect those around them . Based on the loyalty and affection they show us, they accept all kinds of impositions and humiliations, such as training processes, in order to make us happy.
These animals endure walks in which they are not allowed to run freely , which must be tortuous for such active animals. They submit to all these unfair conditions and never use their superior strength, their super senses or their claws and teeth to impose themselves; If we only began to imitate them, we would solve many of the world's problems.