CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

(Organisms)

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Are made up of cells

Unicellular – organisms that are made of only one cell

Multicellular – organisms that are made of more than one cell

Colonial – unicellular organisms that live in a group

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Reproduce to produce new organisms

Sexual reproduction – two cells from different individuals combine to form the first cells of a

new organism

Asexual reproduction – all or part of the organism is used to make a new organism

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Growth, Development and Aging

Growth – some cells get larger and other new cells are added

Development – cells and body parts becomespecialized for certain jobs

Aging – cells and body parts become damaged and cannot be repaired

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Obtain and Use Energy from Environment

Anabolism – process of making complex substances from simpler substances

Catabolism – breaking down complex substances into simpler substances

Metabolism – sum of all of the anabolism and catabolism of an organism

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Obtain and Use Energy from Environment

Autotroph – organism that can make its own food from it’s environment

Heterotroph – organism that has to obtain its energy from another organism

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CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Respond to the Environment

Stimulus – anything in the environment that causes a reaction from an organism

Reflex – automatic response to a stimulus

Behavior – learned or inherited response to a stimulus

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

Respond to the Environment (continued)

Homeostasis – an organism’s response to the environment that keep conditions suitable for life

When your body gets too warm due to

activity or stress,you will sweat

to cool it down.