BIOLOGY: Characteristics of Living Things

1. Living Things are Made up of Cells. CELL: Collection of living material enclosed within a barrier Cells are the basic unit of life a.) Unicellular: made up of one cell b.) Multicellular: made up of many cells Unicellular Multicellular 2. Living Things Reproduce. Living things produce offspring which resemble parents a.) Asexual Reproduction: has only one parent (ex.Hydra…Freshwater animal) b.) Sexual Reproduction: requires two parents Sexual Asexual

Inheritance of traits is carried on DNA. 3. Living Things are Based on a Genetic Code. 4. Living Things Grow and Develop. Living things have a life span a.) Growth: increase in size & shape b.) Development: mature over time

Energy comes from food, used to maintain body Autotroph (Producer): produces own food Heterotroph (Consumer): must consume food Decomposer: breaks down dead material for food 5. Living Things Use & Need Energy.

Producers: Plants and other organisms that make their own food. Consumers: Animals that depend on energy that became stored in the tissues of producers. Decomposers: Break down sugars and other biological molecules to simpler materials.

6. Living things respond to their surroundings. An action causes a reaction. a.) stimulus - The factor(s) that cause a reaction from living and non living things. b.) response - The action that occurs because of the presence of a stimulus. 7. Living things maintain a stable internal environment. a.) HOMEOSTASIS: internal balance; steady state of being regardless of external surroundings. (i.e. Shiver when cold and sweat when hot.)

a.) They adapt to long-range changes in environment. b.) They change to better survive in environment. c.) These changes take place over a long period of time & involve the entire species. 8. Living things Evolve.

Recap Quiz: 1. What are the characteristics of life? 2. What is homeostasis? What is an example of homeostasis? 3. Is a computer living? Why or why not? 4. Why is energy required by living things?