What is the fundamental unit of life?

The fundamental unit of life is the cell. Cells are the smallest structural and functional units of an organism and serve as the basic building blocks of all living things. Every living organism, whether unicellular or multicellular, is made up of cells. They are responsible for carrying out all essential life processes, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

Tissues, organs, and organelles, while important, are not the fundamental units of life. Tissues are groups of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function, organs are made up of different types of tissues that come together to perform complex tasks, and organelles are specialized structures within a cell that perform distinct processes. Thus, while they are all integral components of biological systems, they are not considered the fundamental units of life like cells are.