6 Characteristics of 6 Characteristics of All Living ThingsAll Living Things

Got 4 or 5?Got 4 or 5?

It’s not alive!It’s not alive!

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

and very complexand very complex Unicellular –one cellUnicellular –one cell Multicellular – more than one cellMulticellular – more than one cell

CharacteristicsCharacteristics2. 2. OrganizationOrganization – occurs at the – occurs at the

molecular and cellular levelmolecular and cellular level Differentiation Differentiation different cells different cells

perform different functions for the perform different functions for the organism.organism.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

3. 3. Energy UseEnergy Use – organisms require – organisms require energy to survive, grow and energy to survive, grow and reproduce.reproduce.

Autotrophs Autotrophs organisms that make organisms that make their own food. Ex. Plantstheir own food. Ex. Plants

Heterotrophs Heterotrophs organisms that organisms that must take in food for energy. Ex. must take in food for energy. Ex. HumansHumans

CharacteristicsCharacteristics4. 4. HomeostasisHomeostasis – a stable level of – a stable level of

internal conditions.internal conditions. Ex. Humans regulate internal body Ex. Humans regulate internal body

temperature.temperature.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

5. 5. 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.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

6. 6. 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.

Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words 1. Organism1. Organism – a living thing. – a living thing.

2. Homeostasis2. Homeostasis – maintianing a stable level of – maintianing a stable level of internal conditions.internal conditions.

3. Autotroph3. Autotroph – organisms that obtain their energy – organisms that obtain their energy by making their own food (photosynthesis).by making their own food (photosynthesis).

4. Heterotroph4. Heterotroph – organisms that obtain their – organisms that obtain their energy by taking in food(eating).energy by taking in food(eating).

5. Microscope5. Microscope – an instrument that produces an – an instrument that produces an enlarged image of an object.enlarged image of an object.

Voc. WordsVoc. Words

6. 6. EcologyEcology –study how organisms –study how organisms interact with each other and their interact with each other and their environment.environment.

7. 7. GeneGene – a short segment of DNA – a short segment of DNA that contains the instructions for the that contains the instructions for the development of a single trait.development of a single trait.

Voc WordsVoc Words 8. 8. EvolveEvolve – to change over time. – to change over time.

9. 9. Natural SelectionNatural Selection – a theory stating that – a theory stating that organisms that have certain favorable organisms that have certain favorable traits are better able to successfully traits are better able to successfully reproduce in nature.reproduce in nature.

10. 10. PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis – a process by which – a process by which some organisms capture energy from the some organisms capture energy from the sun (light energy) and convert it into a sun (light energy) and convert it into a form of energy they can store (chemical form of energy they can store (chemical energy).energy).