The Nine Characteristics of Life

By Maddie

Living things are made from the same basic chemical ingredients.

• All living things are made of chemical substances that you can not find in non-living things like a pebble. DNA (a complicated nucleic acid) is formed in long twisted spirals that fit together to make a life form. Non-living things have only atoms.

• A pebble does not have DNA so it is not alive.• A person does have DNA therefore it is alive.

All living things are composed of cells.

• Cells are what make up living things. Cells are also alive. • A lamp does not have cells. It has atoms.• A lion has cells.

Living things require water and a source of life to run their life processes.

• Every living thing needs water to live. Living things also need a main energy source to run their lives. We eat and drink. What would happen if we didn’t have food and water?

• A button does not need food, water, or a source of energy.• An elk needs food, water, and/or a source of energy.

Living things can respond to their surroundings.• Most living things are able to keep a regular body temperature

and react to danger. If this wasn’t possible living things could potentially die. Living things are also able to sense when they are in danger or about to be eaten.

• A polar bear is able to maintain a normal body temperature and react to danger.

• A seashell is whatever temperature it’s surroundings are and cannot sense danger.

Living things have limited life spans.

All living things have to die eventually.A chunk of iron can be forever.A duck will eventually die.

Living things have the ability to reproduce and grow.

• All living things are able to reproduce and grow from when they are born.

• A monkey can reproduce and grow.• A bobby pin cannot reproduce or grow.

All living things have the ability to repair injuries to themselves.

When an animal is injured (as long as the wound is not mortal) the animal’s body is able to repair over time. If they weren’t able to do so many animals would die before they grew up.

A stop sign can’t repair itself if it is damaged.

A leaf can repair its injuries if it is injured.

Living things have the ability to move.• When most people think of moving they think of a person

moving quickly. But, plants move too. They move slowly over time by growing from a seed.

• A plant moves slowly over time.• A piece of plastic never moves.

Living things can undergo change over time.• Sometimes when environments change living things can adapt

or change to meet comfortable living conditions. The world is always changing therefore species need to change not to go extinct.

• A snake can change to meet its environment.• A key can never change.

And That’s the end of The nine characteristics of life!