As a botanist with a keen interest in the life cycle of plants, I can confidently say that a seed is indeed a living thing. However, it's important to understand that seeds have a unique status among living organisms due to their ability to remain in a state of suspended animation for extended periods. This dormancy is a survival mechanism that allows seeds to withstand harsh environmental conditions until the time is right for germination.

Seeds are the result of sexual reproduction in plants, encapsulating the genetic material necessary for the development of a new plant. They are formed from the ovules after fertilization, and they contain the embryo, which is the juvenile form of a new plant. This embryo, along with the stored food supply that the seed provides, is what makes the seed a living entity.

The dormancy of a seed is a fascinating biological phenomenon. During this period, the metabolic processes within the seed slow down significantly, allowing it to survive without water and with minimal nutrients. This state can last for varying lengths of time, ranging from a few weeks to thousands of years, as evidenced by some ancient seeds that have been successfully germinated.

When conditions are favorable, such as the presence of moisture, warmth, and oxygen, the seed will undergo a series of biochemical changes that lead to germination. This process involves the breaking down of the stored food within the seed, the activation of the embryo's metabolic processes, and the growth of the root downward into the soil and the shoot upward towards the light.

It's worth noting that while a seed is living, it does not exhibit all the characteristics of a fully active living organism. For instance, it does not grow or reproduce until it germinates. The germination process is what transforms the seed from a dormant state to an active one, where the new plant begins to develop.

In conclusion, a seed is a living entity, but it exists in a state of dormancy until the right conditions prompt it to germinate. The transition from a dormant seed to a growing plant is a remarkable journey that showcases the resilience and adaptability of life.

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Is it living or non-living? A seed is the embryo of a new plant and as such is a living thing ,but in a dormant state, which requires being buried in soil or other suitable matter to trigger off the renewal process.read more >>