Characteristics of Living Things

All living things: Sense and Respond to Change Reproduce Have DNA Use Energy Grow and Develop Have Cells

Living Things Have Cells Every living thing is composed of one or more cells. A cell is the basic unit of life. It is a membrane-covered structure that contains all of the materials necessary for life.

Living Things Sense and Respond to Change A change in an organism’s environment that affects the activity of the organism is called a stimulus. Ex: darkness, sounds, tastes, heat, light

Organism’s must maintain a stable internal environment to survive. The maintenance of a stable internal environment is called homeostasis. Ex: sweating, shivering

Living Things Reproduce Organisms make other organisms like themselves. This is done one of two ways: asexual reproduction sexual reproduction

In asexual reproduction, a single parent produces offspring that are identical to the parent. Most single-celled organisms reproduce this way. Ex: hydra

Most animals and plants reproduce in this way. Sexual reproduction almost always requires two parents to produce offspring that will share characteristics of both parents. Most animals and plants reproduce in this way.

Living Cells Have DNA The cells of all living things contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA provides instructions for making proteins.

The transmission of characteristics from one generation to the next is called heredity. Ex: children looking like their parents

Living Things Use Energy Organisms use energy to carry out the activities of life, like breaking down food. An organism’s metabolism is the combined chemical processes that it performs.

Living Things Grow and Develop All living things grow, develop, and change over time. Growth is getting bigger. Development is getting more complex. Ex: kids become adults

Needs of Living Things In order to carry out and support these processes, living things need food, water, living space, and stable internal conditions.

Facts about Cells…. All living things are made up of cells Cells are the smallest units of all living things Most cells are too small to see with the naked eye Cells come in different shapes and sizes There are two types of cells: Prokaryotic Cell and Eukaryotic Cell.

History behind cells….. Robert Hooke discovered the first cells by looking through a microscope at a slice of cork. Anton Von Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe living organisms under the newly invented microscope. Theodore Schwann discovered that all animals have cells. Mathias Schleiden discovered that plants have cells. Scientist eventually came up with the cell theory…….

Cell Theory All living things are made up of cells Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things Living cells come only from other living cells. Cell theory Song