Characteristics of Life

What factors determine if something is living? Essential Question What factors determine if something is living?

What do all Living Organisms have in Common? There are 6 characteristics which all living things have in common. List as many as you can think of without any assistance. All living things: Have Cells Use Energy Sense and Respond to change Reproduce Have DNA Grow and Develop

. . . . Have Cells Unicellular = One celled organisms

. . . . Have Cells Multicellular = many celled organisms

. . . . Use Energy To move, think, grow, live, reproduce, etc.

. . . . Respond To Stimuli

. . . . Reproduce Asexual Reproduction: type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism. Offspring are identical to parent. Sexual Reproduction: The production of a new living organism by two parent organisms, with each parent contributing half the DNA of the offspring. Offspring are similar to parents yet unique.

. . . . Grow and Develop Growing / Developing: Process of natural development which living organisms undergo by increasing in size and changing physically; progress to maturity.

. . . . Have DNA DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid): The “blueprints of life” found in the nucleus of every cell to ensure proper replication. Sugar