General Characteristics Of Life PDF

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 1.METABOLISM – refers to the chemical processes that take place as your body converts foods and drinks into energy. Our body needs this energy to do everything from moving, to thinking,  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 1. METABOLISM – the breakdow...

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 1.METABOLISM – refers to the chemical processes that take place as your body converts foods and drinks into energy. Our body needs this energy to do everything from moving, to thinking,  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 1. METABOLISM – the breakdown of organic substances to be converted into micronutrients that would be absorbed and utilized by the body. Types: a. Catabolism – it involves the breakdown of organic substances such as protein, carbohydrates and fats in order to release energy and obtain micromolecules necessary for the organisms’ survival. b. Anabolism – the utilization and building of these micromolecules to be complex organic substance. It is the one responsible for building up our protein, nucleic acids, etc.  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 2. REPRODUCTION – is the production of offspring. Living organisms ensures the survival of their species by reproducing their kind. - It proves how organisms have developed special characteristics in order to ensure that their genetic composition will be passed on to the next generation. - For example, the most advanced and numerous types of plants, the angiosperms, have developed flowers and seeds in order to attract pollinators and facilitate pollination. That adaptation made the angiosperms the most widely spread plant in  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 3. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT – living organisms do not remain the same all throughout their life cycle. - They either grow or increase in size. - Living organisms do not simply accumulate organic substances, but using catabolism and anabolism make more tissues and thus facilitate growth and development. Growth – refers to growing or increasing of size. Development – process which enables organisms to transform from a single cell to a more complex multicellular organism. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 4. HOMEOSTASIS – maintaining the right pH, temperature and electrolyte concentration among others to survive. Not being able to regulate the internal environment would lead to death. pH – measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. (normal-7.35-7.45) Electrolytes – minerals in your blood (ex. Calcium, iron, magnesium,  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 5. RESPONSE TO STIMULI – living organisms unlike the non-life forms react to stimuli (something that trigger a physical or behavioral change) - Response to stimuli can come in different forms. - Some living organisms like the animals have a very obvious way of responding to stimuli. - Example: They run when a predator is around or cries when get hurt. - Plants have more subtle way of responding to stimuli. - Example: They undergo phototropism wherein  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 6. ADAPTATION – living organisms over the course of time have adapted to various changing environmental conditions. - It is one of the organisms’ means to survive. - If an organism cannot adapt they simply perish or become extinct. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 7. ORGANIZATION – living organisms is composed of cells which are also composed of organelles such as the cell membrane is again composed of macromolecules and these macromolecules such as fats is composed of atoms (basic particles of the chemical elements) such as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Now cells when grouped together become tissues, tissues when grouped together become organ and organs of the similar function grouped together become