Characteristics of Living Things and Necessities of Life

Characteristics of Living Things and Necessities of Life April, 2012

Six Characteristics of Living Things 1. Made of 1 or more cells the smallest unit n can perform all life functions n has all the materials necessary for life n

Six Characteristics of Living Things 2. sense and respond to change n Stimulus-anything that causes a reaction or change in an organism n Homeostasismaintaining a constant internal state in a changing environment

n http: //www. moillusions. com/2006/03/scariestoptical-illusion. html

Six Characteristics of Living Things n 3. reproduce Asexual reproduction - single parent produces identical offspring n Sexual reproduction two parents produce offspring n

Six Characteristics of Living Things 4. have DNA n DNA- controls structure and function of cells n Heredity - passing of traits from one generation to the next

Six Characteristics of Living Things 5. use energy n Metabolism – total of all the chemical activities the organism performs n Photosynthesis

Six Characteristics of Living Things 6. grow and develop n all living things get larger and change as they grow (unicellular organisms divide)

Necessities of Life 1. Water n Most living things are made up of mostly water n Humans are about 70% water

Necessities of Life 2. Air n oxygen and carbon dioxide used by almost every organism

Necessities of Life n 3. Shelter n some organisms stay in one place, others migrate

Necessities of Life n 4. Food n used for energy

Where energy comes from: n Producers n plants use light of sun to make sugar glucose from water and carbon dioxide

Where energy comes from: 2. Consumers n eat plants and other animals, cannot make their own food

Where energy comes from: n 3. Decomposers n break down the nutrients in dead plants and animals