Characteristics of Living Things
Life & Cells Unit
Biology
Name: __________________
Date: ___________________
Period: __________________
If something was discovered on another planet that might be life as we know it, how would we really
know if it was an organism? What features or criteria would we use to decide?
Use the section titled “The Characteristics of Life” on pages 6-10 in the Biology textbook to help you.
Cells: Read Made of one or more cells.
Cells are the basic units of ______________________________________________ and function.
What does function mean in this section? _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Organization: Read Displays organization.
What does organization mean when discussing organisms? ________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Growth & Development: Read Grows and develops.
Growth means _________________________________________________________________
Development means _____________________________________________________________
Give an example of growth in a human. ______________________________________________
Give an example of development in a tree.
___________________________________________
Reproduces: Read Reproduces.
Explain why this characteristic is necessary for species instead of individual organisms.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Responds: Read Responds to stimuli.
What is something your body does, on its own, as a response to stimuli? _____________________
Energy: Read Requires energy.
What are the two ways by which organisms get energy? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Homeostasis: Read Maintain homeostasis.
What is homeostasis? ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Your body maintains homeostasis just as all organisms do. What does your body do –without your
control– when you are overheated? ________________________________________________
Adaptations: Read Adaptations evolve over time.
Adaptations are inherited characteristics. What does this mean? ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
This characteristic, like reproduction, is different than the other six. How so? _________________
___________________________________________________________________________
One way to remember the eight characteristics of life described in your book is to remember the
mnemonic O CHARGER. Rearrange the eight characteristics using the O CHARGER mnemonic.
O ___________________________________________________________________________
C ___________________________________________________________________________
H ___________________________________________________________________________
A ___________________________________________________________________________
R ___________________________________________________________________________
G ___________________________________________________________________________
E ___________________________________________________________________________
R
Challenge: make your own mnemonic for the eight characteristics of life!