8 characteristics of living things in detail

1. All things considered to be alive All things considered to be alive
have what characteristics in have what characteristics in
common?common?
Make a list of reasons why you think the Make a list of reasons why you think the
following organisms are considered following organisms are considered
“alive”.“alive”.
Group that comes the closest wins… Group that comes the closest wins…

3. 8 characteristics of living 8 characteristics of living
thingsthings
-Have cells and DNAHave cells and DNA
-ReproduceReproduce
-Grow and DevelopGrow and Develop
-Use energyUse energy
-Have a need for resources and energyHave a need for resources and energy
-Respond to environment/stimuliRespond to environment/stimuli
-Maintain internal balanceMaintain internal balance
-Evolve over time as a speciesEvolve over time as a species

4. 1. HAVE CELLS AND DNA1. HAVE CELLS AND DNA
Multi-cellular:Multi-cellular: cells differentiate from a cells differentiate from a
single fertilized egg cell, and they just single fertilized egg cell, and they just
“know” to become a heart, leg etc.“know” to become a heart, leg etc.
Uni-cellular :Uni-cellular : one celled organism one celled organism
(amoeba or bacteria) (amoeba or bacteria)
Both above have DNA ( the genetic code: Both above have DNA ( the genetic code:
which is why we look like our parents)which is why we look like our parents)

5. Multi-cellular start off a single cell…Multi-cellular start off a single cell…

6. 2. All living things reproduce2. All living things reproduce
There are 2 ways in which this can be There are 2 ways in which this can be
done…done…

7. 2. All living things Reproduce2. All living things Reproduce
There are 2 types of reproduction:There are 2 types of reproduction:
Asexual : 1 parent (budding) - identicalAsexual : 1 parent (budding) - identical
BacteriaBacteria
PlantsPlants
Sexual: 2 parentsSexual: 2 parents
catscats
peoplepeople

8. 3. Living things grow and develop3. Living things grow and develop
What is the difference between the 2 What is the difference between the 2
words?words?

10. Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development
Bacteria-Bacteria- grow, they just increase in size grow, they just increase in size
People People – grow and develop … they – grow and develop … they
increase in size and their bodily functions increase in size and their bodily functions
change over time….until they become an change over time….until they become an
adultadult
ex) puberty…ex) puberty…
Plants grow and developPlants grow and develop
from acorn to treefrom acorn to tree

11. 4. Living things 4. Living things use energyuse energy to …… to ……
grow/ develop/ reproducegrow/ develop/ reproduce

12. Living things use energy to Living things use energy to
grow/develop/reproduce… or just stay alive grow/develop/reproduce… or just stay alive
Where do we get energy from? Where do we get energy from?
Metabolism:Metabolism: combination of chemical combination of chemical
reactions through which an organism reactions through which an organism
builds up and breaks down materials (will builds up and breaks down materials (will
release energy) as it carries out life release energy) as it carries out life
processesprocesses
Fast metabolism- break down Fast metabolism- break down
Slow metabolism – store for laterSlow metabolism – store for later

13. Where are they getting energy Where are they getting energy
from?from?

14. How obtain energy?How obtain energy?
PlantsPlants: From the sun’s energy : From the sun’s energy
“photosynthesis”“photosynthesis”
Lion:Lion: From eating other organisms From eating other organisms
“herbivore, carnivore”“herbivore, carnivore”
Mushroom:Mushroom: From the remains of dead From the remains of dead
organisms (decomposers) organisms (decomposers)

15. 6. Living things respond to stimuli6. Living things respond to stimuli

16. 6. Respond to stimulus6. Respond to stimulus
Stimulus-Stimulus- signal to which an organism signal to which an organism
responds responds
Response-Response- (what they do because of the (what they do because of the
signal)signal)
InternaInternal stimulus- ex.) sugar levels drop? l stimulus- ex.) sugar levels drop?
…then you feel hungry…then you feel hungry
External:External: ex.) flower leans toward the ex.) flower leans toward the
window in a classroomwindow in a classroom

17. Practice Stimulus and ResponsePractice Stimulus and Response
My niece kicked me in the shin and I My niece kicked me in the shin and I
screamedscreamed
I slammed the door and the class jumpedI slammed the door and the class jumped
I turned the light on and the mouse ran I turned the light on and the mouse ran
under the tableunder the table
I placed my hand on the hot stove and I I placed my hand on the hot stove and I
yanked it back and yelpedyanked it back and yelped

18. 7. Maintain internal balance7. Maintain internal balance

19. 7. Maintain internal balance7. Maintain internal balance
External: conditions may vary widely conditions may vary widely
But internal…. Should be kept constant.. …. Should be kept constant..
This is This is homeostasis homeostasis
Ex) temperature 98.6 F, water content, etc Ex) temperature 98.6 F, water content, etc
Ex of how it happens? Ex of how it happens?
Shivering/sweating Shivering/sweating
Thirst/feeling of fullnessThirst/feeling of fullness

20. Evolve over time …Evolve over time …

21. 8. Evolve over time :Evolution 8. Evolve over time :Evolution
100,000’s of millions of years…changes 100,000’s of millions of years…changes
can be dramatic can be dramatic within a specieswithin a species……
ex) pre-historic horse was the size of a Barbie ex) pre-historic horse was the size of a Barbie
doll horsedoll horse