1. Are made up of cells and organisms can be a. Unicellular – one cell; single cell b. Multicellular – many-celled.

A. Asexual – new organism has a single parent. B. Sexual – two cells from different organisms. unite to produce 1 st cell of new organism. (most common form)

3. Is based on a universal genetic code (DNA) that determines inherited characteristics of every organism on Earth

4.Grow and develop  at some point increase in size  organisms change (develop) over the course of their lifetime

5.Obtain and use materials and energy  need these to just stay alive.  need constant supply of energy and metabolism.

 Definition:Metabolism – combination of all chemical reactions in the body that builds or breaks down materials as it carries out its life function.

6. Respond to their environment.  Organisms detect and respond to stimuli in their environment.  Definition: stimuli – a signal to which an organism responds  Can be external or internal.

7. Maintain a stable internal environment.  Process to do this is known as homeostasis.  Often involves internal feedback mechanisms.

8. Taken as a group organisms change over time; these changes are small at any one time but over long periods of time can be significant.

 There will be no cells or anything that is found inside a cell.  Because there are no cells, there will be no metabolic activity.

 The structural organization like tissue, organ or system is never found in nonliving things.  Nonliving things usually do not have any definite form or size of their own.

 The movement, if observed, is never automatic but occurs under any other external influence.  Growth occurs by accretion, i.e. by addition of materials from outside.

 The absence of nutrition, excretion, respiration, reproduction, irritability and adaptation are the characteristics of nonliving things.  The unlimited duration of existence or immortality is a vital characteristic of nonliving things.

1. Nonliving things which were never part of a living entity. ex. glass, stone, chemical elements, gold 1. Nonliving things which though are presently non living but were once a part of living entity. ex. coal formed as a result of dead/decomposing plants, paper that came from once living trees