It’s Alive!!!It’s Alive!!!

What all living things have in common.

All living things have 9 basic All living things have 9 basic characteristics in common.characteristics in common.

1. DNA (genetic code)1. DNA (genetic code)

Offspring inherit their Offspring inherit their traits from their traits from their parents.parents.

These traits are These traits are passed on using passed on using DNA.DNA.

2. Organization2. Organization

Multicellular organisms are made up of Multicellular organisms are made up of cells; cells have organelles, organelles are cells; cells have organelles, organelles are made of molecules, and on and onmade of molecules, and on and on

Single-celled organisms also have Single-celled organisms also have organelles, etc.organelles, etc.

3. Growth and 3. Growth and DevelopmentDevelopment

Most unicellular Most unicellular organism only grow, organism only grow, or increase in size. or increase in size.

Multicellular Multicellular organisms grow and organisms grow and develop (cells develop (cells continue to divide in continue to divide in order to mature).order to mature).

4. Stimulus Response4. Stimulus Response

Detection and Detection and response to stimuliresponse to stimuli (both internal and (both internal and external). external).

5. Reproduction 5. Reproduction All organisms produce All organisms produce

new organisms through new organisms through reproduction.reproduction. Sexual reproduction – two Sexual reproduction – two

cells from different parents cells from different parents unite to produce the new unite to produce the new organism.organism.

Asexual reproduction – Asexual reproduction – new organism has a single new organism has a single parent.parent.

6. Energy Acquisition 6. Energy Acquisition and Releaseand Release

One view of life is One view of life is that it is a struggle that it is a struggle to acquire energy to acquire energy (from sunlight, (from sunlight, inorganic inorganic chemicals, or chemicals, or another organism), another organism), and release it.and release it.

7. Adaptation7. Adaptation

The characteristics of The characteristics of populations change over populations change over time, usually in time, usually in response to their response to their environment.environment.

Charles Darwin began Charles Darwin began the recognition of the the recognition of the marvelous adaptations marvelous adaptations all life has that allow all life has that allow those organisms to exist those organisms to exist in their environment. in their environment.

8. Cells8. Cells

All living things are All living things are made of cells.made of cells. Unicellular – only one cellUnicellular – only one cell Multicellular – two or more Multicellular – two or more

cellscells

9. Homeostasis9. Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the Homeostasis is the maintenance of a maintenance of a constant (yet also constant (yet also dynamic) internal dynamic) internal environment in terms environment in terms of temperature, pH, of temperature, pH, water water concentrations, etc. concentrations, etc.

Remember... Remember...

DOG’S REACHDOG’S REACH