One reason we consider the dormant seed of a desert plant to be alive is that it
A) is extracting energy from the environment.
B) formed within a nonliving structure.
C) is evolving.
D) contains genetic material.
E) is always converting molecules into new biological molecules.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dormant seed of a desert plant contains genetic material (DNA) that allows it to grow and develop when conditions are favorable. This genetic material is a characteristic of living organisms, making option D the correct choice. Options A, B, C, and E are not necessarily true for all living organisms and therefore do not definitively indicate life.

One Reason We Consider the Dormant Seed of a Desert