Characteristics of Characteristics of Living OrganismsLiving Organisms

You are about to see a few You are about to see a few of photographs of living of photographs of living

and nonliving things. Try and nonliving things. Try to figure out what make to figure out what make

something living or something living or nonliving.nonliving.

There were a total of 11 pictures. 7 There were a total of 11 pictures. 7 of them were living things and 4 of them were living things and 4 were nonliving things.were nonliving things.

All living things must have the All living things must have the following 5 characteristics to be following 5 characteristics to be considered living.considered living.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics1. 1. CellsCells – the basic unit of life; small – the basic unit of life; small

and very complexand very complex UnicellularUnicellular – organism made out of one cell – organism made out of one cell MulticellularMulticellular – organism is made out of – organism is made out of

more than one cellmore than one cell

CharacteristicsCharacteristics2. 2. Energy UseEnergy Use – organisms require – organisms require

energy (food) to survive, grow and energy (food) to survive, grow and reproduce.reproduce.

AutotrophsAutotrophs organisms that organisms that make their own food (energy). Ex. make their own food (energy). Ex. PlantsPlants

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs organisms that organisms that must eat other organisms for food must eat other organisms for food (energy). Ex. Humans(energy). Ex. Humans

CharacteristicsCharacteristics3. 3. HomeostasisHomeostasis – a stable level of – a stable level of

internal conditions.internal conditions.• Ex. A cell controls its water content by Ex. A cell controls its water content by

taking and releasing watertaking and releasing water Ex. Humans regulate internal body Ex. Humans regulate internal body

temperature.temperature.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

4. 4. GrowthGrowth – living things grow by cell – living things grow by cell division.division.

Ex. Humans made up of 50 trillion Ex. Humans made up of 50 trillion cells, which came from one cell cells, which came from one cell (fertilized egg).(fertilized egg).

Nonliving things grow by Nonliving things grow by accumulating more material. Ex. accumulating more material. Ex. Icicles.Icicles.

Cell DivisionCell Division

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

5. 5. ReproductionReproduction – organisms produce – organisms produce new organisms like themselves.new organisms like themselves.• It is essential for a species to surviveIt is essential for a species to survive

Organisms transmit DNA (hereditary Organisms transmit DNA (hereditary information) to their offspring.information) to their offspring.