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Characteristics of Living Things

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Movement Living things:

Locomotory

Nonliving things

Can move by external force

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Growth is increasing in size over time.

Growth

Living things: Organize or

assimilate substances inside their bodies.

INTUSSUSEPTION (growth from within)

Nonliving things: ACCRETION

(growth by external addition)

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Reproduction All species have the ability to

reproduce Reproduction is a process by which an

organism may produce offspring and perpetuate its species Not essential to survival of individual

but is essential for continuation of a species

Living things:

Can reproduce sexually or asexually

Nonliving things:

Cannot reproduce

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Respiration The process of breaking down

food molecules into chemical energy needed by all cells in order to function.

Living things: respire Nonliving things: do not respire

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Irritability/ Sensitivity Respond to stimuli in the external

environment. Stimuli are factors that affects the living

organism Tropism is the reaction of organism to a

stimulus

Living things:

Not proportion

Nonliving things:

Proportion

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Formation/Shape Living things:

Constant

Nonliving things:

Varied

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Life span Life span is a definite period of existence Living things: definite Nonliving things: not definite

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Chemical Composition Living things:

More organic, less inorganic

Nonliving things:

More inorganic, less organic

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Level of Organization Living things:

High level

Nonliving things:

Low level

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Atom

Molecule

Compound

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Adaptation & Evolution

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Adaptation Any structure, behavior, or internal

process that enables an organism to respond to stimuli and better survive in an environment.

Ability to adapt to their environment through the process of evolution

Favorable characteristics are selected for and passed on to offspring

Living things:

Can adjust

Nonliving things;

Can respond but cannot adjust

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Evolution The gradual accumulation of adaptations

over time. Change over time. Living things evolve

CHARACTERISTICS LIVING THINGS

NONLIVING THINGS

VIRUS

Movement Locomotory Can move by external force LT- insideNLT- outside

Growth Intussusception Accretion Neither

Reproduction Can Can’t LT- insideNLT- outside

Respiration Respire Do not respire LT

Irritability Not proportion Proportion LT

Formation/Shape Constant Varied LT

Existence Definite Not definite NLT

Chemical Composition More organic, less inorganic

More inorganic, less organic LT

Level of Organization High level Low level NLT

Adaptation Can adjust Can respond but can’t adjust LT

Evolution Evolve Don’t evolve LT