Life is distinguished from non-living things by biological processes like metabolism, homeostasis, reproduction, and response to stimuli. It first appeared on Earth over 3.8 billion years ago in the form of microorganisms. While there is no consensus on a definition, life is generally characterized as open systems that maintain homeostasis, are made of cells, undergo metabolism and reproduction, and evolve over time. Biology studies the diverse forms of life including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.