Characteristics of Life

Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic that defines all living things?

The presence of highly-organized structures in their cells, tissues, organs, or organ systems

Being made of cells (correct)

The ability to reproduce and pass their genes to their offspring

The ability to respond to changes in their environment

Which of the following is an example of order in living organisms?

The presence of tiny hair-like structures called cilia covering the entire surface of a paramecium (correct)

The random arrangement of rocks on a beach

The changing colors of a sunset

The unpredictable movement of a tornado

What is the main purpose of adaptations in living organisms?

To maintain a specific range of internal conditions

To increase their energy intake

To survive and reproduce at higher rates (correct)

To respond to changes in their environment

What is an example of regulation/homeostasis in living organisms?

A dog panting when it is too hot Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of reproduction?

A volcano erupting Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of energy for most living organisms?

Eating other living organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which living organisms grow and develop?

Growth and development based on genetic instructions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a response to the environment?

A Venus flytrap closing on a fly Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characteristics of Life

Living organisms are composed of cells, which are the basic structural and functional units of life (e.g., human cheek cells, plant leaf cells, bacteria E. coli cells)

Order

Living organisms exhibit order, which is reflected in the highly organized structures of their cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
Examples of order include the presence of cilia on the surface of a single-celled paramecium and the identical internal order of cilia in a human trachea, as well as the pattern of a sunflower

Adaptations

In a population, individuals with favorable traits have a higher survival and reproduction rate
Adaptations can result in modified structures, such as the leaves of a cactus that have evolved into sharp spines to protect the plant from predators

Response to Environment

Living organisms can respond to changes in their environment, known as stimuli
Examples of responses to stimuli include a Venus fly trap closing on a fly that triggers the trap and sunflowers moving to face the sun as it travels across the sky

Regulation/Homeostasis

Living organisms maintain a specific range of internal conditions despite external changes
Examples of regulation/homeostasis include dogs and chickens panting to cool down when they are too hot

Reproduction

All living organisms can reproduce, passing their genes (DNA/RNA) to healthy, fertile offspring
Examples of reproduction include a turtle laying eggs that hatch into baby turtles

Energy Processing

Living organisms require a source of energy, which can come from photosynthesis or consuming other organisms
An example of energy processing is a caterpillar eating a leaf to obtain energy

Growth and Development

Organisms grow and develop in a specific sequence based on the instructions in their genes
An example of growth and development is a frog egg hatching into a tadpole, which eventually metamorphoses into a frog

Description

This quiz covers the fundamental characteristics of living organisms, including their composition and organization. Learn about the structural and functional units of life, and how living things exhibit order in their cells, tissues, and organs.