Moreover, the functions of a living thing are clearly different in nature from actions in non-living entities—even though a star, a tornado, or a volcano may exhibit highly complex patterns of activity ().

• Only the living thing stores energy internally and can then direct it toward any of various alternatives, according to its needs.

• Like a tornado, a living organism may respond in a certain way to an outside stimulus. The action in a living thing, however, is not typically powered directly by the stimulus, but only triggered. In this sense, the action of a plant or animal, unlike that of a tornado, is self-generated.     

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