Characteristics Of Life

Biology is the study of Life! In order to be living, an organism needs to have ALL of the following 8 characteristics or processes Synthesis, Transport, Excretion, Respiration, Nutrition, Growth, Reproduction, and Regulation.

An acronym to help you remember the 8 processes! STERNGRR An acronym to help you remember the 8 processes!

Synthesis Definition: All living organisms can build larger molecules from smaller pieces or subunits. Example: DNA Replication-making new strands of DNA. Protein Synthesis-building proteins by putting amino acids together. Photosynthesis-making food from sunlight.

Transport Definition: All living things can move chemicals throughout their body, even if the body is only 1 cell. Example: Moving oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream (ex: circulatory system). A plant stem has tubes that transport nutrients. xylem: water phloem: food

Excretion Definition: Ability to remove waste products from the cell(s). Example: Urination and defecation. Removal of lactic acid from muscles. Removal of CO2 from the cells.

Respiration ENERGY Definition: The releasing/breakdown of food, resulting in the production of energy and CO2. *Not Breathing! Example: Eating a plate of pasta before a football game.

Nutrition Definition: Gaining necessary nutrients (minerals/vitamins) from food. Example: Bacteria get nutrients from eating certain chemicals. A plant absorbs sunlight and converts it to food. A hummingbird drinking nectar.

Growth and Development Definition: The increase in size of an organism, and/or the changing throughout the lifecycle. All living organisms are made of cells! Multicellular-made of many cells. Unicellular-made of a single cell. Example: An acorn develops into an oak tree. A caterpillar changes into a butterfly. A human child grows and develops into an adult.

Reproduction Definition: Living things give rise to new cells (asexual) or new organisms (sexual). Example: The production of new skin cells. Sexual reproduction to make a new offspring. Bacteria splitting into 2 new organisms (asexual).

Regulation Definition: The response to an internal or external stimulus. Example: Sweating to cool your body. Tropism - in Greek it means "a turning". Ex: phototropism, gravitropism, thigmotropism.

Plant tropisms Phototropism A plant’s response to light. Gravitropism A plant’s response to gravity. Thigmotropism A plant’s response to being touched.

Important Vocab Metabolism The chemical reactions occurring in your body, also known as STERNGRR. Homeostasis An ideal internal condition within an organism. It is reached when an organism through regulation! Use the words homeostasis, regulation, and metabolism in a sentence to show your understanding.

Living organisms regulate (control) themselves using their metabolism (life processes/STERNGRR), in order to maintain homeostasis (a balance) .