8 Characteristics of Living Things

What is an organism?

•A living thing!

What makes something “alive?”

•1) Made up of Cells

Everything living is made of cells!

Cell specialization

What makes something “alive?”

•1) Made up of Cells

•2) Obtains and Uses Energy

Energy comes in many forms!

What makes something “alive?”

•1) Made up of Cells•2) Obtains and Uses Energy

•3) Grows and Develops

Growing is different from development !

What makes something “alive?”

•1) Made up of Cells•2) Obtains and Uses Energy•3) Grows and Develops•4) Responds to the

Environment

What is a stimulus and a response?

•Stimulus - the “cause” or signal.

•Response- the resulting action caused by the stimulus.

What is an adaptation?

•The way that a living thing changes to better fit its environment.

What makes something “alive?”

•1) Made up of Cells•2) Obtains and Uses Energy•3) Grows and Develops•4) Responds to the

Environment•5) Reproduces

Most things can reproduce.

What makes something “alive?”

• 1) Made up of Cells• 2) Obtains and Uses Energy• 3) Grows and Develops• 4) Responds to the Environment• 5) Reproduces• 6) Based on universal genetic

code (DNA)

DNA is the code of life

What makes something “alive?”• 1) Made up of Cells

• 2) Obtains and Uses Energy• 3) Grows and Develops• 4) Responds to the Environment• 5) Reproduces• 6) Based on universal genetic code

(DNA)• 7) Maintains a stable, internal

environment (Homeostasis)

Homeostasis

•The balance of the internal systems of living things.

•Ex- Heart rate, Breathing rate, Temperature

What makes something “alive?”• 1) Made up of Cells

• 2) Obtains and Uses Energy• 3) Grows and Develops• 4) Responds to the Environment• 5) Reproduces• 6) Based on universal genetic code (DNA)• 7) Maintains a stable, internal environment

(Homeostasis)• 8)As a group living things change over

time

What are basic needs of all living things?

•An energy source- Sun, Food•Minerals•Water•Sleep•Social activity•Oxygen