Characteristics of Life

Is it alive?

What characteristics do all living things have in common?

What Do Living Things Have in

Common?

Made of cells

Made of Cells• All living things

contain one or more cells with genetic material (DNA)

• Cells are organized into structures that carry out certain functions

• Cell -> Tissue -> Organ -> Organ System -> Organism

What Do Living Things Have in

Common?

Made of cells

Require Energy

Require Energy

• Living things must get energy to live– Autotrophs-make their

own energy (like plants)– Heterotrophs-eat other

organisms to get energy

What Do Living Things Have in

Common?

Made of cells

Reproduce

Require Energy

Reproduce• Living things must make more living things for

their species to survive and their genetic material to be passed on to the next generation.

What Do Living Things Have in

Common?

Made of cells

Reproduce

Grow

DevelopRequire Energy

Growth and Development• Growth-increase in the amount of living

material and the formation of new structures

• Development-all the changes that take place during the life of an organism

What Do Living Things Have in

Common?

Made of cells

Reproduce

Grow

DevelopRequire Energy

Adapt and Evolve

Adapt and Evolve• Adaptation-an inherited structure, behavior, or

internal process that allows an organism to respond to their environment and live to reproduce

• Evolution-gradual changes in a species through adaptations over time

The Characteristics of Life

• Things must have ALL of the following to be considered alive:

– Made of Cells

– Require Energy

– Reproduce

– Growth and Development

– Adapt and Evolve