Characteristics of Living Things

Living creatures are ORGANIZED All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… molecules proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids proteins carbohydrates A2 DNA

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 A3

Living creatures are ORGANIZED All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as… organs & organ systems respiratory, circulatory, digestive, etc. A4

Cells of living things carry out Life Processes necessary for Life. An organism is said to be alive as long as the cells perform these __8__ life processes. 1. Nutrition- Taking in food and processing the materials needed for life There are 2 types: Autotrophic- Plants-Make own food Heterotrophic- Animals- Need to go out and get food A5

Respiration Release of energy from the food and oxygen we take in. Mitochondria is the organelle that performs respiration. There are two types: Aerobic- uses oxygen to make energy Anaerobic- does not use oxygen to make energy A6

Excretion Removal of liquid wastes. Egestion-is the removal of solid wastes. A7

Regulation Control of all activities in an organism. This helps maintain balance (Homeostasis). 2 body systems work to maintain this-Nervous and Endocrine(hormones) A8

Growth To increase in size A9

Synthesis Making simple substances more complex. Example Photosynthesis- plants use Co2 and H2o along with sunlight to make Glucose (sugar) A10

Transport Distributing materials throughout the organism. Examples: Cytoplasm – liquid within the cell Circulatory system- blood carries materials needed for body ( oxygen, nutrients, hormones) A11

Reproduction Production of a new individual. Not needed for individual to survive.Must have for the species to survive. Two Types: Sexual- 2 Parents Asexual- 1 Parent A12

Virus A Virus is an exception. It cannot carry out all the life processes. To stay alive a virus must invade the cell of a living organism. It needs a Host cell to stay alive. A13

Metabolism Is the total of all the life processes. When a person states he has high or low metabolism this is what they are talking about. It is the combination of all the life functions working together. A14

Homeostasis Is the body maintaining internal balance (a steady state). When all the life processes are occurring normally, it is maintaining homeostasis. A15

If a body is not in homeostasis then FEEDBACK MECHANINSMS kick in Examples: Body Temperature- Sweating –cools body Shivering- heats the body Sugar Levels- Pancreas produces hormone called Insulin- maintains glucose (sugar) levels A16

In Plants Guard Cells- open and close to maintain water balance