Characteristics of Life Quiz

Study Notes

Five Characteristics of Life

Life is defined by five key features: Cells, Obtain and Use Energy, Reproduction, Respond to the Environment, and Adapt/Evolve.

Cells

Fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms, e.g., bone cells.
Multicellular organisms consist of multiple cells (e.g., humans, lions).
Unicellular organisms consist of a single cell (e.g., bacteria, archaea).

Levels of Organization

Cells form the basic units of living things (e.g., skin cells, bone cells).
Tissues are collections of similar cells (e.g., nerve and muscle tissues).
Organs are composed of tissues performing specific functions (e.g., heart).
Organ Systems are groups of organs working together (e.g., cardiovascular system).
Organisms are individual living entities capable of responding and reproducing (e.g., bacteria, humans).

Reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes to create a new organism.
Asexual reproduction allows a single organism to create offspring independently.
Essential for producing new organisms of the same type.

Abiogenesis

Refers to the concept of life originating from inorganic matter.

Biogenesis

The process by which living organisms arise from other living organisms.

Obtain and Use Energy

Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions within an organism, essential for maintaining life.

Anabolism

The process of synthesizing complex molecules from simpler ones, e.g., photosynthesis.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex substances into simpler components, e.g., conversion of proteins to amino acids or glucose to ATP.

Autotroph/Producer

Organisms that create their own food through processes like photosynthesis (e.g., plants, algae).

Heterotroph/Consumer

Organisms that obtain food by consuming other organisms (e.g., lions, tigers, humans).

Respond to the Environment

Irritability describes an organism's ability to react to environmental stimuli.

Stimulus

Any environmental factor that elicits a response from an organism (e.g., light, temperature, sound).

Response

The action taken by an organism in reaction to a stimulus.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Adapt and Evolve

Adaptation is an inherited characteristic that enhances an organism's survival and reproductive success.

Evolution

Refers to genetic changes in a species over time, illustrated by examples like the evolution of color traits in beetles.

Natural Selection

The principle that organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to evolutionary changes.

Diagram of Life

Life progresses through stages: Birth/Growth & Development, Maturity (reproductive capability), Decline, and Death.

Description

Test your knowledge on the five characteristics of life, including cells, energy use, reproduction, response to the environment, and adaptation. This quiz will also explore the levels of organization in living organisms and the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction.

Characteristics of Life Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following are included in the five characteristics of life? (Select all that apply)

What is the basic unit of structure and function in living things?

What defines multicellular organisms?

What is abiogenesis?

What is the difference between biogenesis and abiogenesis?

What is metabolism?

What does the process of anabolism involve?

How do heterotrophs obtain food?

What is homeostasis?

What is a stimulus?

What is natural selection?

The five characteristics of life include: cells, obtain and use energy, reproduction, respond to the environment, and _____.

What are the stages in the diagram of life?