What term describes the basic unit of life?

• A. Cell
• B. Tissue
• C. Organ
• D. System

Answer: (A)

The basic unit of life is the cell. Cells perform all the essential life processes—metabolism, energy production, growth, and responding to the environment. They’re the smallest units that can carry out these functions, and organisms are built from many of them. This idea is captured by cell theory: all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic units of structure and function, and new cells come from existing cells.

Tissues are groups of similar cells working together, organs are structures made of different tissues performing specific tasks, and systems are ensembles of organs coordinating to sustain life. So, the term that describes the basic unit of life is cell.