Activating Strategy: Warm-up Which of the following are living things? There may be more than 1! a) bacteria b) virus c) rosebush d) elephant e) desk f) water g) rock h) blood cells

Characteristics of Living Things Chapter 1, Section 2

What are living things like? Any living thing is called an ORGANISM. Organisms can vary in size, but all organisms have similar traits that determine what it means to be alive.

Living Things are ORGANIZED Organisms are made up of CELLS. A cell is the smallest unit of an organism that carries on the functions of life. Some organisms are just one cell, while others are composed of many cells. Each cell contains hereditary material that determines the function of the cell.

Living Things RESPOND Organisms interact with their surroundings as well as things that occur inside them. Anything that causes a change in an organism is called a STIMULUS. The reaction to that stimulus is a RESPONSE. An organism’s ability to keep proper conditions inside no matter what is going on outside the organism is called HOMEOSTASIS – this is a trait of all living things.

Living Things Use ENERGY Energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Some bacteria at the bottom of the ocean use energy stored in chemical compounds and carbon dioxide.

Living Things Grow and Develop Organisms take in raw materials and make more cells or increase the size of the cell.Organisms take in raw materials and make more cells or increase the size of the cell. Organisms change as they grow. This is called DEVELOPMENT.Organisms change as they grow. This is called DEVELOPMENT.

Living Things REPRODUCE Organisms must make more of their own kind to replace the individuals that die.

What do Living Things Need? 1.A Place to Live An organism’s surroundings must provide for all of its needs (space, temperature, etc.) 2.Raw Materials Water is extremely important for all living things. Substances (fats, proteins, sugars) that can be recycled in nature

8 Characteristics of Living Things 1.Movement – ability to move 2.Sensitivity – ability to respond to external conditions 3.Respiration – ability to exchange gases with the environment 4.Nutrition – Obtain energy from photosynthesis or outside sources 5.Growth – Develop, become larger and mature 6.Excretion – Creation of waste products 7.Reproduction – create new life sexually or asexually 8.Death – when all life processes permanently end.

The Martian & the Car Marty Martian was sent to Earth by the Martian government to find life. While on Earth, Marty captured a car and brought it back to Mars. He thought he’d found a good example of life on Earth. The Martian government does not believe that the car Marty brought back is alive. Marty must stand trial for failing to perform his Martian duties.

At the trial, Marty spoke in his defense. “I first saw these life forms rolling along roads in great numbers. They were giving off thick clouds of poisonous waste as they moved. They seemed to exhibit herding behavior, as many of the cars moved in the same direction. They appeared to have a great deal of energy; some of them moved faster than 100 km per hour. When one of these life forms stopped or slowed down, the others behind it responded. They too slowed down and gave off a reddish light from the back, and sometimes they would make honking noises. I observed that they would stop to feed on a liquid substance.

Take the part of Marty’s defense attorney and make a good case for the car’s being alive. Then be the prosecutor and show that the car is a nonliving thing. List as many reasons as you can. Defense Attorney:Prosecutor:

Ticket Out the Door: Day 4, Column 3 Although water may CONTAIN living things, it is not a living thing. Why isn’t water a living thing?