1.5 Characteristics of Life Unity in Diversity

1. ORDER All organisms exhibit complex organization

2. Regulation The environment outside an organism may change markedly, but regulatory mechanisms maintain an organisms’ internal environments within limits that sustain life.

homeostasis The ability to maintain a relatively constant internal environment. EXAMPLES: body temp. Blood sugar levels Water levels pH

Kidney used for water regulation Gets rid of wastes

3. Growth and development Each organism has a pattern of growth and development characteristic of its species.

4. Energy Utilization Organisms take in energy and transform it to perform all of life’s activities. -metabolism -photosynthesis

5. Response to the environment All organisms respond to environmental stimuli. Eye spot (responds to light)

I’m outa here!

6. Reproduction DNA lends itself to precise replication, and all organisms reproduce their own kind.

7. Evolution Reproduction underlies the capacity of species to change (evolve) over time.