The ability to reproduce is a unique characteristic of living systems. Although cells reproduce, multicellular organisms have a finite life. The most lasting analysis of the importance of biological systems is reproduction, this ability to produce progeny that can also reproduce is called fitness . Reproduction is a conservative but not perfect information transfer between generations. The population of individuals and their reproductives that form a population contains more genetic and ecological characteristics than can be found in any one individual.
Living systems have high efficiency.
The efficiency of populations in the right place and at the right time is legendary, in the wrong place and time survival is impossible. Living systems have internal regulation without fixed goals. Problems develop when we try to understand cells, organisms and communities in human terms and expect them to have the set goals or end points we associate with running a business or city. Predictable patterns are not caused by goal orientation. Negative feedback loops are a key to the regulation of nature.