characteristics of life

 Organisms- any living things

. found almost everywhere on earth

.range in size from microscopic to gigantic

.all have similar traits.

  All living things are: ORGANIZED

.made up of cells

.cell=smallest unit of an organism that carries on life functions

.cell to tissue to organ to organ system

.single celled/ multi cellular organisms

.contain hereditary materials (instructions for organization and functions)

All living things: RESPOND

.respond=interact with surroundings, respond to stimuli

.stimulus=causes change in an organism

.response=a reaction to a stimulus

.organisms must maintain homeostasis (ability to keep proper conditions inside no matter

what: temperature, water, food)

All living things: USE ENERGY

.the SUN provides the most energy for all living things either directly or indirectly

.directly=plants/ various small organisms use sunlight carbon dioxide and water to make food

(autotroph)

.indirectly=most other organisms take in and use food by eating plants or eating organisms that eat plants (heterotroph)

all living things: GROW and DEVELOP

.take in raw materials and make more cells

.growth is a result of increased number of cells

.organisms change as they grow=development

.all organisms have a lifespan

all living things: REPRODUCE

.make more of their own kind

.living things must replace individuals that die

what do living things NEED to survive  Organisms- any living things

. found almost everywhere on earth

.range in size from microscopic to gigantic

.all have similar traits.

  All living things are: ORGANIZED

.made up of cells

.cell=smallest unit of an organism that carries on life functions

.cell to tissue to organ to organ system

.single celled/ multi cellular organisms

.contain hereditary materials (instructions for organization and functions)

All living things: RESPOND

.respond=interact with surroundings, respond to stimuli

.stimulus=causes change in an organism

.response=a reaction to a stimulus

.organisms must maintain homeostasis (ability to keep proper conditions inside no matter

what: temperature, water, food)

All living things: USE ENERGY

.the SUN provides the most energy for all living things either directly or indirectly

.directly=plants/ various small organisms use sunlight carbon dioxide and water to make food

(autotroph)

.indirectly=most other organisms take in and use food by eating plants or eating organisms that eat plants (heterotroph)

all living things: GROW and DEVELOP

.take in raw materials and make more cells

.growth is a result of increased number of cells

.organisms change as they grow=development

.all organisms have a lifespan

all living things: REPRODUCE

.make more of their own kind

.living things must replace individuals that die

what do living things NEED to survive

.once alive, organisms must need a place to live and an ability to take in raw materials in order to survive.

Place to live...

.environment limits habitat

.not too hot, not too cold...

.not too crowded, not to sparse

.etc...

 raw materials...

.water: ( majority of all organisms are primarily made of water) transports food and waste

.protein

.lipids

.carbohydrates

.nucleic acids

.eat materials, die, re-used again