1. Characteristics of Living Things

2. Living creatures are ORGANIZED
All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as…
molecules
proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids
proteins
carbohydrates A2
DNA

3. Living creatures are ORGANIZED
All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as…
organelles & cells
plant cells & animal cells
plant cell
animal cell A3

4. Living creatures are ORGANIZED
All made of the same collection of chemicals, but we are organized as…
organs & organ systems
respiratory, circulatory, digestive, etc. A4

5. Cells of living things carry out Life Processes necessary for Life.
An organism is said to be alive as long as the cells perform these __8__ life processes.
1. Nutrition- Taking in food and processing the materials needed for life
There are 2 types:
Autotrophic- Plants-Make own food
Heterotrophic- Animals- Need to go out and get food A5

6. Respiration
Release of energy from the food and oxygen we take in. Mitochondria is the organelle that performs respiration.
There are two types:
Aerobic- uses oxygen to make energy
Anaerobic- does not use oxygen to make energy A6

7. Excretion
Removal of liquid wastes. Egestion-is the removal of solid wastes. A7

8. Regulation
Control of all activities in an organism. This helps maintain balance (Homeostasis). 2 body systems work to maintain this-Nervous and Endocrine(hormones) A8

9. Growth
To increase in size A9

10. Synthesis Making simple substances more complex.
Example Photosynthesis- plants use Co2 and H2o along with sunlight to make Glucose (sugar)
A10

11. Transport Distributing materials throughout the organism. Examples:
Cytoplasm – liquid within the cell
Circulatory system- blood carries materials needed for body ( oxygen, nutrients, hormones)
A11

12. Reproduction
Production of a new individual. Not needed for individual to survive.Must have for the species to survive.
Two Types:
Sexual- 2 Parents
Asexual- 1 Parent
A12

13. Virus
A Virus is an exception. It cannot carry out all the life processes. To stay alive a virus must invade the cell of a living organism. It needs a Host cell to stay alive.
A13

14. Metabolism
Is the total of all the life processes. When a person states he has high or low metabolism this is what they are talking about. It is the combination of all the life functions working together.
A14

15. Homeostasis
Is the body maintaining internal balance (a steady state). When all the life processes are occurring normally, it is maintaining homeostasis.
A15

16. If a body is not in homeostasis then FEEDBACK MECHANINSMS kick in
Examples:
Body Temperature-
Sweating –cools body
Shivering- heats the body
Sugar Levels-
Pancreas produces hormone called Insulin- maintains glucose (sugar) levels
A16

17. In Plants Guard Cells- open and close to maintain water balance