All things considered to be alive have what characteristics in

common? Make a list of reasons why you think the

following organisms are considered “alive”. Team that comes closest wins!!

8 characteristics of living things

- Have cells and DNA- Reproduce- Grow and Develop- Use energy- Have a need for materials and energy- Respond to environment- Maintain internal balance- Evolve over time as a species

1. Have cells and DNA

Unicellular Multi-cellular

1. HAVE CELLS AND DNA

Multi-cellular: cells differentiate from a single fertilized egg cell, and they just “know” to become a heart, leg etc.

Uni-cellular : one celled organism (amoeba or bacteria)

Both above have DNA ( the genetic code: which is why we look like our parents)

2. All living things reproduce

There are 2 ways in which this can be done…

Types of reproduction

2. All living things Reproduce

There are 2 types of reproduction: Asexual : 1 parent (budding) - identical

bacteria Sexual: 2 parents

cats people

3. Living things grow and develop

What is the difference between the 2 words?

Growth and Development

Bacteria- grow, they just increase in size People – develop … they increase in size

and their bodily functions change over time….until they become an adult

ex) puberty…

Living things use energy to grow/develop/reproduce… or just stay alive

Where do we get energy from? Metabolism: combination of chemical

reactions through which an organism builds up and breaks down materials (will release energy) as it carries out life processes Fast metabolism- break down Slow metabolism – store for later

How obtain energy?

Plants: From the sun’s energy “photosynthesis”

Lion: From eating other organisms “herbivore, carnivore”

Mushroom: From the remains of dead organisms (decomposers)

6. Living things respond to stimuli

http://www.fotosearch.com/video-footage/time-lapse-flower_2.html

6. Respond to stimulus

Stimulus- signal to which an organism responds Response- (what they do because of the

signal) Internal stimulus- ex.) sugar levels drop?

…then you feel hungry External: ex.) flower leans toward the

window in a classroom

Practice Stimulus and Response

My niece kicked me in the shin and I screamed

I slammed the door and the class jumped I turned the light on and the mouse ran

under the table I placed my hand on the hot stove and I

yanked it back and yelped

7. Maintain internal balance

External: conditions may vary widely But internal…. Should be kept constant..

This is homeostasis Ex) temperature 98.6 F, water content, etc Ex of how it happens?

Shivering/sweating Thirst/feeling of fullness

Evolve over time …

8. Evolve over time :Evolution

100,000’s of millions of years…changes can be dramatic within a species…

ex) pre-historic horse was the size of a Barbie doll horse