1. Characteristics of Life

2. Objectives List six characteristics of life
Describe how a living thing is organized
Explain why all living things on Earth are not yet well understood

3. The Characteristics of Life
How can you tell if something is alive?

4. The Characteristics of Life
Biologists have devised a list of 6 characteristics that define life.
Something can be considered alive ONLY if it displays ALL 6 of the characteristics.
Anything that possesses all 6 of the characteristics of life is called an organism.

5. The 6 characteristics of life:
1. Made up of Cell(s)
2. Cellular Organization celltissueorgansystemorganism
3. Growth & Development
4. Reproduction
5. Adaptation to environment – response to a stimulus
6. Maintaining Homeostasis

6. 1. Cells Basic unit of life
All living things are made up of one or more cells
Cells are made up of smaller parts called organelles

9. 2. Cellular Organization
Cell -> Tissue -> Organ -> Organ System -> Organism
Specific parts of cells (organelles) carry out different functions

10. 3. Growth & Development
All living organisms grow and develop during their life spans.
Growth: an increase in the size of an organism due to an increase in the size and number of cells
Development: all of the changes that take place throughout the life span of an organism

11. 4. Reproduction
All living organisms are able to produce live offspring.
Species produce offspring similar to themselves
NOT essential of the survival of an individual organism
Essential for continuation of the species

12. 5. Adaptation to Environment:
All living organisms are able to adapt to their surroundings.
They are able to react, or respond to an environmental condition, or stimulus.

13. 6. Homeostasis
All living organisms are able to maintain a relatively constant internal environment.
Homeostasis: Maintain a constant stable internal environment suitable for life
When an organisms is unable to maintain homeostasis it dies
Metabolism provides the raw materials and energy to maintain homeostasis
Metabolism: sum of all the chemical reactions that occur in the organism

14. The Living World
World of biology is rich with organisms and diverse with different types of life yet many organism have yet to be discovered this and more will be discussed in classification.

15. Fun Facts about Organisms
Largest Animal Alive Today
Blue Whale
30 meters in length = 120 feet
weigh up to 130 metric tons (= 30 elephants)
Largest Plant Alive Today
Giant Sequoia Tree
height over 100 meters = 300 feet

16. More Fun Facts Smallest Living Things Viruses Bacteria
As small as 1000 nanometers in length
Viruses
100 times smaller than bacteria but can’t be classified as an organism.
Are viruses alive?