Characteristics Of Living Things PDF

# Characteristics of Living Things - **What is biology?** - **Biology** is the study of all living things. - Living things are called **organisms**. - Organisms include bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. - All organisms share eight common **characteristics**. # Common C...

# Characteristics of Living Things - **What is biology?** - **Biology** is the study of all living things. - Living things are called **organisms**. - Organisms include bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. - All organisms share eight common **characteristics**. # Common Characteristics - **Basic unit is the cell.** - **They reproduce.** - **All based on universal genetic code (DNA).** - **Grow and develop.** - **Obtain and use materials and energy.** - **Respond to their environment** - **Maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis).** - **As a group, living things evolve (change over time).** # Characteristics of Organisms - **1. All organisms are made of cells.** - Organisms are grouped by their number of cells. - **Unicellular organisms:** Living organism made up of one cell. - **Multicellular organisms:** Living organism made up of many, specialized cells. - **2. Organisms reproduce to pass on their genetic traits.** - **Two types of reproduction:** - **Sexual reproduction:** Involves 2 parents. Egg fertilized by sperm to make a zygote. Offspring are different from parents. - **Asexual reproduction:** Involves a single organism or cell. Cell divides. Offspring are identical to parent. - **3. Living organisms have a genetic code.** - **Genetic code:** - **DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)** carries the genetic code for all organisms. - All organisms contain DNA. - DNA gives instructions for the **proteins** that make up cells and do all the work. - **4. Organisms grow and develop.** - **Growth and development:** - Organisms grow by producing more cells and by cell **enlargement**. - Organisms develop as they mature into an adult organism. - **5. Living organisms require food and energy.** - **Food and energy:** - **Metabolism** - is the breaking down and/or building up of materials by the organism in order to carry out life processes. - **6. Organisms respond to stimuli.** - Organisms respond to: temperature, water, food supplies... in order to survive and reproduce. - **7. Organisms want to maintain an internal balance.** - **Homeostasis:** Keeping the internal environment of the cell or organism within the ranges required for life. - **Stable internal conditions of:** pH, temperature, water balance. - **8. Living things evolve.** - **Groups of organisms change over time in order to survive within changing environments.** - **Fossil records show changes in groups of organisms.** # Lab Group Quest.. - What levels of organization do ecologists use to organize organisms? - Your lab group has a set of Levels of Organization Cards. Arrange them in order on your desks from smallest to largest.