By: Josehpine M. ManingasBiology Teacher

Think of making a list of characteristics the “line” between life and nonlife there are certain accepted traits

1. Made of cells 2. Reproduce3. Grow, develop 4. Obtain/use energy5. Respond to the environment

1. Made up of CELLS• small, self-contained units• separated from it’s

surroundings• can make an entire

organism – called unicellular:• multicellular is made of

many cells• Cells are never formed by

non- living things

2. Living things REPRODUCE• This means they produce new organisms of the same type• individuals will die; thus they must reproduce if the group of similar organisms (species) will survive

Two basic kinds of reproduction:1. Sexual reproduction- requires 2

cells from different individuals unite2. Asexual reproduction- a single

organism can reproduce without the aid of another

– some single-cell organisms will simply divide into two new cells

3. Grow and Develop• at some stage, living things are

capable of growth: taking in materials from the surroundings and transforming it into living tissue

– different from a snowball “growing”

• development- a cycle of change

• As development continues, a process called aging occurs

– processes become less efficient– ability to reproduce ceases– death is the end result– life span:

• Death is then also a process of change that separates living and nonliving

4. Obtain and Use Energy• energy comes from the

surroundings, or environment• energy used to grow, develop, reproduce• Anabolism- process of putting together simpler materials into more complex materials (a building

process)

Plants- obtain energy from sunlight in a process called photosynthesis

• photo- means light• synthesis- means put together• Animals cannot perform photosynthesis – they must take in energy in the form of food

• Catabolism- breakdown of complex materials into simpler items • Living things have both anabolism

and catabolism • Sum total of both is metabolism -

the balance of all chemical reactions in the body3

5. Respond to the environment• some can be rapid, some are slow• they react to a stimulus

– light, temperature, odor, sound, gravity, heat, water, pressure, etc.

• Irritability - ability to react to stimulus • Homeostasis – a balance of conditions

Thank you for listening!!