Characteristics of Life

Biology = study of _________________________ There is great ________________ among living things All living things ______________ certain characteristics

Cells All living things are made of ___________ Cell = smallest unit of ________________ and __________________ for living things Some organisms are –___________________ = made up of one cell –___________________ = made up of many cells

Reproduction All living things are able to produce _________________________ Through this process, living things pass on their __________________ traits

Genetic Code All living things have a _______________ genetic code The genetic code is based on __________ and its four nitrogen bases – ____, ____, ____, and ____

Growth / Development All living things grow / develop at some point during their lifetime. Growth = increase in ____________; usually occurs through _______________ (cell division) Development = changes; for instance, _________________ of certain structures for certain jobs in an organism’s body

Metabolism All living things must obtain and use ________________ Metabolism = all of the _______________ in an organism –______________________ = process plants use to get energy from the sun –_______________________ = process used to break down food energy into cell energy (ATP)

Respond to Environment All living things are able to respond to things happening ________ and ___________ them (stimuli) –Plants grow toward sunlight –People shiver when they are cold

Homeostasis All living things try to maintain a ________ _______________ __________________ –Resting heart rate = beats per minute –Resting breathing rate = approx. 15 breaths per minute –Normal body temperature = 98.6 o F (37 o C)

Evolution = change in a ______________ over time All living things, as a group, change over time –__________________ evolve Population = members of the same species living in the same place at the same time –__________________ do NOT evolve