6 Characteristics of Living Things Brittney Paradis and Mercedes Winegar 7 th Grade Science

Grow and Develop 5rs 5rs 1 st

Living Things Have Cells A cell is a membrane covered structure that contains all of the materials necessary for life. Some organisms are made up of trillions of cells. A cell is the smallest unit that can perform all life processes. 2 nd

Sense and Respond All living things sense and respond to the environment. Example: A bear hibernates in the winter. Organisms must respond to change in the external environment in order to maintain their homeostasis. Example: When people are cold they shiver, when people are hot they sweat. 3 rd

Living Things Reproduce Organisms make other organisms similar to themselves. Sexual Reproduction is when two parents produce offspring that will share characteristics of both parents. Asexual Reproduction is when a single parent produces offspring that are the same to the parent, single celled organism. 4 th

Living Things Have DNA The cells of all living things contain DNA. When organisms reproduce they pass they DNA to their offspring. Heredity is the passing of traits through DNA. 5 th

Living Things Use Energy Organisms use energy to do activities of life. One thing organisms use energy is when making food or breaking down food. They also use energy when moving materials into and out of the cells and building cells. 6 th