What term means living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria?

• A. Population
• B. Microbiome
• C. Bacteria
• D. Organisms

Answer: (D)

Living things are called organisms. An organism is any individual life form that carries out the basic processes of life, such as growth, metabolism, response to the environment, and reproduction. Plants, animals, and bacteria are all organisms, but they represent different kinds of organisms. A population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area, not all living things. The microbiome describes the community of microorganisms in a specific environment, like the gut, and bacteria are just one kind of microorganism. Because it is the broadest term that includes all living things, organisms is the correct answer.