Which of the following is an example of an organism?

An organism is generally defined as any living entity that can function independently, exhibit growth, reproduce, and respond to stimuli within its environment. In this context, a human being is indeed an example of an organism because it meets all the criteria associated with living organisms. Humans are complex multicellular organisms that perform vital biological functions, including metabolism, reproduction, and homeostasis, enabling them to survive and thrive.

While plants, viruses, and bacteria also possess characteristics of life, they represent different categories of organisms. Plants are multicellular and capable of photosynthesis, while bacteria are unicellular organisms that can live in various environments. Viruses, on the other hand, are often debated in the classification due to their reliance on a host cell for reproduction and metabolism, which makes them unique and somewhat different from the more traditional definitions of living organisms. Thus, the definition of an organism aligns most closely with the characteristics seen in a human being.