Characteristics of Life What makes a living thing a living thing? Organism Organism
‡ An organism
An organism is an individual living thing
is an individual living thing ‡ ,W¶VDQLQGHSHQGHQWXQLWRIOLIH
,W¶VDQLQGHSHQGHQWXQLWRIOLIH ‡ If you lop off your arm, it is made of living materials. materials.
‡ However, it is not a living thing because it cannot sustain itself. cannot sustain itself.
1. Cellular Organization ‡ All living things are made of cells ‡ Unicellular organisms are single-­celled organisms. ‡ Multi-­cellular organisms are made of more than one cell 2. Chemicals of Life ‡ ,WGRHVQ¶WPDWWHULI\RX¶UHDQDPRHEDRUDQ
aardvark. ‡ All living things have a similar chemical makeup. ‡ They all have water in them. ‡ They all have the 4 organic molecules: ±
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Carbohydrates Proteins Lipids Nucleic Acids (DNA) 3. Use energy ‡ All living things use energy to sustain life ‡ Heterotrophs-­ get their energy from eating other living things ‡ Autotrophs-­ make their own food using energy from the Sun. 4. Growth and Development ‡ Organisms usually increase in size ‡ Organisms become more complex 5. All living things respond to their environment ‡ Stimulus-­ a change that causes an organism to react ‡ Living things respond to the stimuli around them ‡ 7KHGRRUEHOOULQJV« ‡ 7KHEHOOULQJV« ‡ <RXKHDUDILUHDODUP« 6. Reproduction ‡ One living thing must come from another living thing like it ‡ Asexual-­ only one organism is needed ‡ Sexual-­ two organisms are needed to reproduce 7. Living things adapt and evolve ‡ Living things can change over many generations. ‡ Natural Selection-­
Organisms that are best suited to their environment will survive 8. Homeostasis ‡ All living things must maintain a stable internal environment. Exit Quiz 1. Give an example of a stimulus and a reaction. 2. Why do animals adapt over time? 3. What is the difference between growth and development? Which feature of life is this an example of? Living Things Need Food! Can You Identify the Feature Shown in the Pictures Below? ‡ Living Things Develop! What Feature of Life is Shown Below? ‡ Living Things Respond To Their Environment! What Feature Do You See Here? ‡ Living Things Are Adapted to Their Environment! What Feature Is Shown Below? ‡
Living Things Reproduce! What Feature is This? ‡ Living Things Grow! ‡ Living Things Develop! Which Feature of Life Do We Have Here? ‡ Living Things Use Energy! ‡ Living Things Need Food! Finally, What Feature of Life is This? ‡ Living Things Are Made of Cells!