Characteristics of Living Things 1 Have Cells membrane

Characteristics of Living Things

(1) Have Cells –membrane covered structures that have all materials needed for life • Unicellular = 1 cell • Multicellular = more than 1 cell

(2) Have DNA § DNA is responsible for heredity § Heredity: passing on of traits from parent to offspring (passed through DNA) § DNA has instructions to make proteins that run body by chemical reactions (made of amino acids)

(3) Respond to Stimuli • Organisms react to a stimulus (a change) • Organisms try to maintain homeostasis (constant internal environment) • Chemical reactions that keep body alive need homeostasis so they can occur

(4) Use Energy To carry out life activities like: • For making food (plants) • For breaking down food (both) – Taking in food = ingestion – Breaking down food = digestion • For building cells (both) • Metabolism – all chemical reactions that an organism carries out

(5) Grow and Develop Growth: • Cells grow larger • Cells multiply Development: • Change in organism as it grows

(6) Reproduce • Keeps species alive • Asexual – single parent = identical offspring (unicellular) • Sexual – 2 parents = offspring have traits of both parents (protists, fungus, plants & animals)

(7) Excrete Waste • Waste released so it doesn’t poison body • Two wastes we release are carbon dioxide and urine