What characteristics do living creatures have in common? Properties of Life What characteristics do living creatures have in common? 2007-2008

Characteristics of Living Things All living things: have an orderly structure produce offspring grow and develop adjust to changes in the environment Use energy Adapt to their environment evolve

Living creatures are ORGANIZED All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… molecules proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids carbohydrates proteins DNA

Living things are organized orderly structure: (one or more cells) ~ cell- smallest unit of life ~tissue- group of cells that perform a common function ~organ- group of tissue that perform a common function ~organ system- a group of organs that perform a common function ~organism- any complete living thing

Living creatures are ORGANIZED All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… organelles & cells plant cells & animal cells plant cell animal cell

Living creatures are ORGANIZED All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… organs & organ systems respiratory, circulatory, digestive, etc.

Living creatures REPRODUCE Make the next generation

Living things change during their lives Growth results in an increase in the amount of living material and the formation of new structures.(cell division ) All of the changes that take place during the life of an organism are known as its development.

Living things make more living things Reproduction~ the production of offspring. (necessary for species *to survive; not necessary for individual organism’s survival) 2 types: 1. asexual: 1 parent: offspring identical to parent 2. sexual: 2 parents, offspring not identical to parents * A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in nature

Living things adjust to their surroundings Anything in an organism’s external or internal environment that causes the organism to react is a stimulus A reaction to a stimulus is a response.

Living creatures RESPOND Respond to internal changes Homeostasis maintaining balanced conditions inside the body Respond to external changes

Living things adjust to their surroundings Regulation of an organism’s internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for its survival is called homeostasis

Living creatures use ENERGY Metabolism all the reactions your body performs to make & use energy (from food) eating & digestion & elimination of waste synthesis = building cellular respiration = making energy mitochondria

ENERGY FLOW ALL ENERGY COMES FROM THE SUN PLANTS USE THE SUN TO CREATE THEIR OWN FOOD MEAT EATERS USE A LOT OF ENERGY PLANT EATERS EAT PLANTS, USING LESS ENERGY THAN THE MEAT EATERS

Living things adapt and evolve Any structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and live to produce offspring is called an adaptation Adaptations are inherited from previous generations. The gradual change in a species through adaptations over time is evolution.