In a cell what is the difference between living organeele and a non living one?

Question

like plasma membrane, mitochondria is said a living organelle while cell wall is a non living one
also why do we say blood platelets are non living

Answer 1

Mitochondria is said to be a living organelle because it has its own DNA and it can reproduce separately from the cell it self (just like chloroplast). Mitochondria is a living cell inside another living cell. It has its own DNA (which is different from the cell's DNA) and has 2 layers of membrane: the outer layer has the same composition as the cell membrane but the inner layer has a different composition, unique to the mitochondria. There are evidence that at one point, mitochondria (as well as chloroplast) was a free living cell. That is why both mitochondria and chloroplast are called living organelles.

Platelets are said to be non living because they are not real cells, they are cell particles. They don't have nucleus and don't metabolize anything. They are more like free chemicals in blood.

Answer 2

The plasma,mitochondria,plastids,etc are living because they are involved in life processes actively.The actual process takes place in them.E.g in mitochondria electron transfer takes place.Plastids carry out the process pf photosynthesis.But in case of the cell wall the process involved is passive passage of molecules,ions,etc.It only facilitates the entry of essential materials.The blood platelets are non-living fragments of R.B.Cs,formed due to their breakage in the bone marrow.They contain a complex called Thromboplastin that helps in blood-clotting.For in depth knowledge plz refer the books on cellular biology,histology,haematology.