What does continuity of life indicate about living organisms?

The concept of continuity of life indicates that living organisms reproduce and pass on their genetic material to the next generation, ensuring that they arise from their own kind. This reflects the biological principle of heredity, where traits and characteristics are transmitted through genetic information. This continuity ensures that the species maintains its identity and adapts over time through evolution while retaining essential features that define it as a specific type of organism.

In contrast, the idea that living things can appear from non-living sources does not align with the established understanding of biological reproduction and development. Similarly, suggesting that living things can only arise from non-living things is contradictory to the principles of biology that affirm that life originates from pre-existing life. The dependence of living organisms on external environmental factors highlights the interaction with their surroundings, but it does not specifically address the continuity of life in the context of reproduction and genetic inheritance.