1. Characteristics of Life
Class Notes 1
Characteristics of Life

2. A. All living things are made of cells
Cells are the smallest living unit.
All cells come from pre-existing cells

3. B. Living things reproduce and grow.
Each individual (in the correct conditions) must be capable of producing offspring.
Organisms grow and change throughout their lives.

4. C. Living things respond to their environment.
Organisms respond to sound, sight, temperature etc.
This response allows them to survive environmental change.

5. D. Organisms must metabolize.
Living things take in raw materials and change them to energy.
Plants make energy from sunlight, while animals make energy from food.

6. Summary
How has your idea of what is living and what is not changed from the beginning of the period? Briefly list the four characteristics of living things.