2. 1. Living Organisms Are Able to Reproduce On Their Own Living organisms may reproduce sexually or asexually. An example of sexual reproduction is when the sperm and egg cells of possums join to produce a zygote which divides through mitosis to create a baby possum. An example of asexual reproduction is when a paramecium divides to create two identical copies of itself. Image Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.

3. 2. Living organisms grow As cells divide over and over again through mitosis, the number of cells in an organism can increase. This allows organisms, like these trees, to increase in size. Many of these trees have added enough cells to grow into large canopy trees. Image Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.

4. 3. Living Organisms Use Energy from Their Environment to Carry out Day to Day Functions (Respiration) Mammals, like this bear (heterotroph), will turn the energy stored in the chemical bonds of meat and plants into ATP energy that can be used to carry out processes like moving, breathing, reproduction, etc. Plants (autotroph) store the sun’s energy in the chemical bonds of sugars, which they use to carry out their day to day functions. Some bacteria are able to convert the chemical energy stored in minerals or metals, like this bacteria that survives on iron, into the energy that they need to survive. Images Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.

5. 4. Living Organisms Respond to the Environment Stimulus Stimulus – anything in the environment that causes a reaction from an organism. Living organisms respond to their environment in many ways, like reacting to a sound in the forest, or migrating to a warmer climate during the winter like these Canada geese. Image Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.

6. 5. Living Organisms Move Animals such as crocodiles and basketball players use muscles to move them through their environment. Organisms such as plants use water pressure to create movement. Image Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.

7. 6. Living Organisms Carry Out Excretion All living organisms create waste products during their daily lives. These waste products need to be removed from the organism’s body. The process of removing these waste products is called excretion. Humans excrete products such as carbon dioxide, urine, and dead cells once they are broken down. Lungs excrete some of the carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration. Kidneys excrete urine which contains several waste products such urea and bilirubin

8. 7. Living Organisms Feed to obtain Nutrition All living organisms need to obtain nutrients from their environment. Plants take water, minerals and vitamins from the soil to help them function properly. Animals such as sea lions and bears need to obtain nutrients such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates From the food they eat in order to survive. Images Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Granted.