General principles of organization of life Beklemishev, V.N. 1964. On general principals of organization of life. An organism is characterized by form, not by matter, because matter is continuously renewed. It is a form sustained in the metabolism flow. Cycles are actually spirals at a closer look.
Biosphere is very complex.
Non-living components . Living systems may have non-living components. Cloths, tools are parts of human organization, parts of the body. When less external support is needed for existence and function of organization, then the integrity increases. Integrity of organisms changes during their life-cycle.