Characteristics of Living Things

Living or non living, that is the question.

Characteristics of Life Introduction

Living or nonliving?

Living or Non-living? People once believed that non living things

such as meat, mountains, rivers, and forests were living.

This thought was disproved in the 1600’s by the work of a scientist named Francisco Redi.

Raw meat experiment (pg. 36)

Redi Experiment Redi knew that life could not come from

non living things (spontaneous generation). People thought maggots came from meat (non-living) and not flies (living).

Redi put out 2 jars of raw meat, one covered and one not covered.◦ He found that the jar that was covered did not

have maggots.◦ The jar that was not covered had maggots.

It is made of cell(s)

It contains similar chemicals

It obtains and uses energy

It grows and develops

It reproduces

It responds to its surroundings

What makes something alive?

All organisms (living things) are made of cells. A cell is the basic unit of STRUCTURE and FUNCTION in an organism.◦ Unicellular- having only one cell◦ Multicellular-having many cells

Made of Cells Video

Made of cells

All organisms are made of similar chemicals.◦ Water (most abundant) ◦ Carbohydrates (cell’s energy source)◦ Proteins & Lipids (what cells are made out of)◦ Nucleic acid (DNA made of)◦ Carbon (recycled through all living things)

Chemicals of life- Similar chemicals

All living things obtain and use energy.◦ Energy is needed to do everyday things, such as

eat, walk, grow, and develop.

Use energy

All organisms grow and develop.

◦ Development is the process of change that occurs during the organism’s life.

◦ You are developing. Many of you are in a growth spurt.

Growth and development

All organisms reproduce.◦ Trees drop seeds.◦ Dogs have puppies.Organisms have to reproduce in order to keep on living. If organisms did not reproduce, their species would die off.

Reproduce

All living things respond to their surroundings.◦ Stimuli- (could include) temperature, light, sound

Heat◦ Response- (action) organisms react to the stimuli.

Sweat, dehydration, thirst◦ Example- The temperature outside is 107⁰F. What

happens when you are outside in the heat for several hours?

Respond to surroundings

Plants following the sun clip

Homeostasis

The balance of the internal systems of living things.

Examples: Heart Rate (resting vs. exercising)Breathing Rate (resting vs. exercising)Temperature (sweating, shivering)Fluid Level (thirst and urination

amount/color) Can you think of any others?

Homeostasis and Body Temperature