Research Started - Organism (biology)The word organism refers to a living biological individual. However, biologists need a more precise definition of this term. They set specific conditions that must be met for something to be considered both living and an organism. These conditions included being able to regulate body temperature, being able to move, and being able to grow. As biologists made new discoveries, they revised these conditions. Recently, with the rise of genetic evolutionary biology , many biologists have come to question the traditional qualifications for organisms. Many even think the term itself is no longer necessary.