Characteristic of Life #1??
#1.
Cell = Smallest unit capable of all life functions
Unicellular vs. multicellular?
Unicellular
ü Entire organism is made up of one single cell
ü For example: Bacteria and most protists
Bacteria
Protist
Multicellular Organisms
ü The organism is made up of many
cells
ü Cells have specialized functions
within the organism
Characteristic of Life #2??
#2.
Reproduction is the process of producing
new organisms of the same type
Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction?
Asexual Reproduction
•  When a single parent organism creates an identical copy
of itself
Bacteria reproduce
asexually
Starfish can reproduce asexually. If a starfish's
arm is removed along with part of the central
disk (the center of the body from which the
arms radiate) a whole new sea star can form
from that detached piece. The amputated
starfish can also regenerate a new arm to
replace the lost limb.
Sexual Reproduction
ü Two different parent organisms contribute genetic
information
ü Involves the combination of male and female sex
cells
•  Genes carry hereditary information
•  Genes are composed of DNA
Heredity is the reason children resemble their parents
Mutations change DNA
code and can be passed
from generation to
generation
Characteristic of Life #3??
#3
Living organisms need energy to grow,
develop, repair damage, and reproduce
Autotroph
•  Organisms that use energy from the sun to make their
own food (which they then use for energy)
•  Autotrophs are the producers in an ecosystem
Heterotroph
•  All of the energy needed to survive and carry out life processes
was created by another organism
•  Depend on other organisms to obtain their energy(food)
*Do not create their own food
•  Are the consumers, detritivores, & decomposers in an
ecosystem
Characteristic of Life #4??
Stable
internal
environementt
#4
Homeostasis = any process that living things use
to actively maintain fairly stable conditions
necessary for survival
ü Body temperature
ü Blood volume
ü pH balance
ü Water balance
Characteristic of Life #5??
#5
Organisms react to stimuli:
ü Light
ü Temperature
ü Odor
ü Sound
ü Gravity
Squinting in bright light
ü Heat
ü Water
ü Pressure
A plant’s leaves and stems growing
toward light
Characteristic of Life #6??
#6
All Living Things Grow & Develop
Growth results in an increase in
the amount of living material and
the formation of new structures.
All of the changes that take
place during the life of an organism
are known as its development.
Characteristic of Life #7??
A horse
millions of
years ago
A horse
today
#7
Adaptation
ü A process that enables
organisms to become better
suited to their environment
ü  Species obtain adaptations
over great periods of time
Evolution
ü  Change over time
A horse millions of years
ago
A horse today
The fossil record reveals that the horse has evolved over
the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed
creature into the large, single-toed animal of today.
An Example of Adaptation
The fossil record
reveals that giraffe
necks have increased
4x their original size
Why would the
neck length increase
over hundred and
hundreds of years?
All living things share some basic properties.
ü Made up of one or more cells
ü Reproduce & display heredity
ü Obtain and Use Energy
ü Maintain Homeostasis
ü Respond to stimuli
ü Growth and Development
ü Evolve and adapt