Characteristics of Life Unit 2 Alive Not Alive

Characteristics of Life Unit 2

Alive, Not Alive, Once was Alive? Dog Paper Dirt Yogurt Water Cell phone Radish seed Milk Fire Yeast Bacteria Mold

Made of one or more cells The smallest unit of life are cells Cells are incredibly small, but have organelles to provide all life functions Organisms can be single celled or multicellular

Respond to Stimuli Organisms respond to stimuli or changes Stimuli can include light, temperature, sound, gravity, water, chemicals, etc. Many organisms respond with movement, including plants

Reproduce Organisms need the ability to pass on their traits Reproduce sexually or asexually

Growth All organisms grow, even single celled organisms Organisms need to be able to repair or replace damaged cells

Adapt and Evolve Some individuals are better suited for their environment then others The traits that enable those organisms to survive are called adaptations Adaptations are passed on to offspring

Maintain Homeostasis is the ability to maintain balance so the organism can carry out all its life functions Example: human body temperature is 98. 6 degrees. We sweat when we are too warm or shiver when we are too cold.

Obtain and Use Energy Living things require energy to reproduce, respond to stimuli, grow and develop The energy is a result of chemical reactions that occur inside cells