What are the Characteristics of living things?

Biology is the study of life.

Biotic—something alive

Abiotic—something not alive

Which of the following are biotic and abiotic?

What does it mean to be living?

Vs.

Characteristics of Living Things

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

CELLS

movement

Response to Stimuli

Regulation-Homeostasis

reproduction

Energy Use & Respiration

Evolution

All living things are made of cells

• Review—the cell theory

• Cells are the basic unit of life.

• Cells produce other cells.

All living things grow.

Grow-get biggerDevelop—become sexually mature

All living things maintain homeostasis by the

process of regulation.

Homeostasis—maintaining a stable internal balance

All living things respond to stimuli-or have sensitivity

Responding to stimuli is a behavior. Populations respond to

stimuli over time by evolving.

All organisms must get nutrition & use energy.

This can be done by converting chemicals (bacteria) or the sun’s energy into food (plants). Other organisms eat to gain energy. Energy is used to perform the characteristics of life.

All living things reproduce.

Reproduction means to pass on DNA or genetic characteristics.

All living things evolve.

Populations must be able to change over time as environments change, or risk becoming extinct. This is done by a process called natural selection, where the organisms with the best traits (or adaptations)survive to reproduce, passing those traits onto their offspring.

All living things have Internal or External MovementAn action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

All living things are organized.

molecules

organism

cells

tissues

organs

organ systems

atoms

MovementRespirationSensitivityGrowthReproductionExcretionEvolutionNutrition