Notes - Living Organisms

Characteristics of all Living Things Organisms have life spans. Organisms can reproduce. Organisms grow. Organisms are made of cells. Organisms require energy. Organisms respond to their environment.

1. Organism – a complete living thing. 2. Life Span – begins when an organism receives life from parents, grows, reproduces, ages, and then dies 3. Organisms can reproduce. Everything alive comes from other living things. Organisms reproduce organisms similar to themselves. 4. Organisms Grow. Organisms grow by taking nonliving materials and making them into living substances for the body. An organism grows if it builds more substances than it wears out. Life Cycles – illustrated on age 49

6. Cytoplasm – the living material in a cell. 5. Cell – a tiny unit of living material surrounded by a thin membrane. A cell is the basic unit of life. 6. Cytoplasm – the living material in a cell. Made up of water and organic compounds. Organic compounds contain carbon. Examples include sugars, starches, fats, and proteins.

7. Unicellular organisms are made up of only one cell. uni – means one Examples: bacteria, algae, protozoans, yeasts.

8. Multicellular organisms are made of many cells. There are two types. Colonial Organisms – made up of many similar cells. Each cell can exist by itself. Tissue – made up of many different types of cells. Cells in a tissue cannot survive independently. Tissue needs all the cells to function properly.

9. Energy – ability to do work All living things must have a constant supply of energy to live. Plants obtain energy from the sun. Humans and animals obtain energy from food.

10. Movement – Move an organisms from place to place OR the moving of substances within an organisms, ex: heartbeat Requires energy

11. Response – a living thing’s reaction to its surroundings Requires energy Example: sunlight

12. Physical Life vs Spiritual Life Physical Life – living things made up of non-living parts that require energy to sustain the characteristics of living things. Spiritual Life – man’s relationship with God