1. Characteristics of Living Things

2. Dead
Once alive, but now physically inactive (no movement, response, reproduction, metabolism, growth)
Still in it’s natural state
Ex: Fallen Tree branch
dried flower
dead squirrel

3. Non-living – something that is not and never was alive in its current form
Some Non-living things:
Rocks
Wooden table
Plastic
Rubber

4. Living All living things have 6 things in common:
They are made of cells
They obtain and use energy
They grow and develop
They reproduce
They respond to their surroundings
They adapt to their environment

5. 1. Made of Cells Unicellular - one cell Multicellular - many cells
Ex: bacteria
Multicellular - many cells
Ex: cats

6. 2. Obtain & Use Energy Autotrophs - make their own food
Ex: all plants
Heterotrophs - must find and eat food
Ex: cows, birds, lizards

7. Grow & Develop
Get larger
Get more complex

8. 4. Reproduce (with DNA)
Asexual - one parent, offspring are identical copies
Sexual - two parents, involves egg and sperm

9. 5. Respond to Surroundings (movement)
Stimulus - change in organism’s environment that causes organism to react (like a school bell)
Response - an action or change in behavior as a result of stimulus (students move to their next class)

10. 6. Adapt to Environment
A physical or behavioral change to help the organism survive

11. What are some things that are living:
Birds
Bacteria
Plants
Fungi

12. What about Viruses? It can reproduce, but only in a host cell
A virus is a sub-microscopic infectious agent.
It can reproduce, but only in a host cell
Does not have cells
Evolves through natural selection

13. An easy way to memorize the 6 characteristics of life:
CEG RRA
C = Cells E = Energy G = Grow R = Reproduce R = Respond A = Adapt