What is the basic unit of all living things?

The basic unit of all living things is the cell. Cells are the fundamental building blocks of life, serving as the smallest structural and functional units in organisms. Every living organism is made up of one or more cells, and they perform essential functions that support life, such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

While organelles are specialized structures within a cell (like the nucleus or mitochondria) and play important roles in cellular function, they are not considered the basic unit of life themselves. Tissues are groups of similar cells working together to perform a specific function, and organs consist of multiple tissues working together for more complex tasks. Therefore, the cell is the primary unit from which all biological structures arise, making it fundamental to the study of biology and life itself.