Characteristics of Living Things Living creatures are ORGANIZED

Characteristics of Living Things

Living creatures are ORGANIZED • All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… – molecules • proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids proteins carbohydrates DNA A 2

Living creatures are ORGANIZED • All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… – organelles & cells • plant cells & animal cells plant cell animal cell A 3

Living creatures are ORGANIZED • All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… – organs & organ systems • respiratory, circulatory, digestive, etc. A 4

Cells of living things carry out Life Processes necessary for Life. An organism is said to be alive as long as the cells perform these __8__ life processes. 1. Nutrition- Taking in food and processing the materials needed for life There are 2 types: Autotrophic- Plants. Make own food Heterotrophic- Animals - Need to go out and get food A 5

Respiration • Release of energy from the food and oxygen we take in. Mitochondria is the organelle that performs respiration. • There are two types: – Aerobic- uses oxygen to make energy – Anaerobic- does not use oxygen to make energy A 6

Excretion • Removal of liquid wastes. Egestion-is the removal of solid wastes. A 7

Regulation • Control of all activities in an organism. This helps maintain balance (Homeostasis). 2 body systems work to maintain this. Nervous and Endocrine(hormones) A 8

Growth • To increase in size A 9

Synthesis • Making simple substances more complex. • Example Photosynthesis- plants use Co 2 and H 2 o along with sunlight to make Glucose (sugar) A 10

Transport • Distributing materials throughout the organism. Examples: • Cytoplasm – liquid within the cell • Circulatory system- blood carries materials needed for body ( oxygen, nutrients, hormones) A 11

Reproduction • Production of a new individual. Not needed for individual to survive. Must have for the species to survive. Two Types: Sexual- 2 Parents Asexual- 1 Parent A 12

Virus • A Virus is an exception. It cannot carry out all the life processes. To stay alive a virus must invade the cell of a living organism. It needs a Host cell to stay alive. A 13

Metabolism • Is the total of all the life processes. When a person states he has high or low metabolism this is what they are talking about. It is the combination of all the life functions working together. A 14

Homeostasis • Is the body maintaining internal balance (a steady state). When all the life processes are occurring normally, it is maintaining homeostasis. A 15

• If a body is not in homeostasis then FEEDBACK MECHANISMS kick in • Examples: • Body Temperature • Sweating –cools body • Shivering- heats the body • Sugar Levels– Pancreas produces hormone called Insulin- maintains glucose (sugar) levels A 16

In Plants Guard Cells- open and close to maintain water balance A 17