1. Characteristics of Life
How are all living organisms similar?

2. Made up of cells
Organisms can be unicellular (one cell)

3. Made up of cells
Organisms can be multicellular (many celled)

4. Require energy
Some organisms convert light energy into chemical energy (food energy, or sugar) through photosynthesis inside chloroplasts

5. Require energy
Some organisms obtain energy by consuming other living things (either plants, other animals or both)

6. Growth and Development
Organisms grow and develop throughout their lives

7. Reproduction
Some organisms reproduce asexually

8. Reproduction
Some organisms reproduce sexually

9. Homeostasis – maintain a stable internal environment
Organisms have systems within their bodies to regulate internal conditions (temp., sugar level, growth of cells)

10. Respond to changes in the environment
Organisms are able to respond to changes that occur in the environment around them

11. Evolve or change as a group over time
While an individual organism changes throughout its live it will not evolve. Evolution occurs within a group of organisms over long periods of time

12. Universal genetic code
Organisms are all based on using the same genetic code, DNA. The code is written differently for different organisms, but all organisms use DNA to pass on traits and characteristics to their offspring