Characteristics of Living Things

Biologists use six characteristics to classify something as a living thing.

1. Made of Cells2. Use and Need Energy

3. Adapt to Their Surroundings4. React to Changes

5. Reproduce6. Grow and Develop

Characteristics of Living Things

• All living things have these six characteristics.

• Anything without one of these six characteristics is nonliving.

• Living things are called organisms.

1. Made of Cells

Organisms are made up of one or more cells. – Unicellular and Multi-cellular

A cell is the basic unit of structure and function in living things.

Cells = the BUILDING BLOCKS OF Life!

•Cell →

Use and Need Energy

• All organisms need and use energy to live.

• Energy is the ability to do work

• Sunlight is the source of energy for most living things.

• Plants use the energy in sunlight to make food, and animals get energy by eating plants or other animals that have eaten plants.

• What is the name of the process below?

•If you said Photosynthesis, you are correct!!!!

• Hint: LEARN THIS FORMULA…

Adapt to their surroundings

• Organisms are adapted, or suited, to their surroundings.

• All organisms have features that help them survive in their surroundings.– For example: fish have gills and humans have

lungs

React to Changes

• Organisms react to change in their surroundings.

• Any reaction to change is called a response.– For example: A bright light may cause you to

blink

Reproduce

• Organisms produce more organisms of their own kind.

• Reproduction allows organisms to continue living on the earth.

• What process does the picture to the right represent? →

•If you guessed MEIOSIS you are correct!!!!!

Growth and Development

• All organisms grow and develop.

• Living things change, or develop, during their lifetimes.– One way organisms

change is by growing.

– Living things may also change in appearance.• For example:

tadpoles and frogs

Review

• Biologists use six characteristics to classify something as a living thing.1. Made of Cells2. Use and Need Energy3. Adapted to Their Surroundings4. React to Changes5. Reproduce6. Grow and Develop

• All living things display all of the above characteristics.

Take Home Quiz

• On a separate sheet of paper, list the following living things• 1. Human• 2. Salmon• 3. Chicken• 4. Butterfly• 5. Petunia

Now, all of these are examples of living things, so we know that they are composed of cells. What I want you to do is give an example of: why they specifically need energy, one way that they adapt to their surroundings, one way they react to changes in their environment, how they reproduce, and, lastly, how they grow and develop (list each and EVERY life stage).

This will be worth a quiz grade of 25 points. 1 point for each fact. Due by Monday, January 11th, 2016.

Penalty for late work is 2 points per day. If I will not be able to read your writing please type it and paste it into your notebook.