Characteristics of Life

Living things Living things

R = REPRODUCE Production of offspring by an organism Not necessary for an organism to survive Necessary for the species to survive

C = made of CELLS Orderly structure of cells in an organism Each cell contains DNA that provides all information needed to control life processes

H = maintain HOMEOSTASIS Regulation of an organism’s internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival – Examples: Fever to fight off infection, sweating, shivering

A = ADAPT to the environment Adaptation: Any structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to fit better in its environment – Inherited from previous generations – Examples: Owls large eyes help to see at night

R = RESPOND to stimulus Ability to respond to stimuli in the environment is key characteristic Example: Temperature turns cold & dry (stimulus) and trees loose leaves (response)

G = GROW An increase in the amount of living material and the formation of new structures

E = EVOLVE Evolution is the process by which a species changes through time Evolution has been occurring since the origin of life and explains both the unity and diversity of life

E = need ENERGY Living things cannot maintain life without an outside source of materials and energy Energy is the capacity to do work, and it takes work to maintain the organization of the cell and the organism

D = DEVELOP All of the changes that take place during the life of an organism