Transcript Characteristics of Living Things

Characteristics of
Living Things
What makes something an organism?
Key Words
 Organism:
 Biotic:
 Abiotic:
Key Words
 Organism: any living thing
 Biotic:
 Abiotic:
Key Words
 Organism: any living thing
 Biotic: a term used to describe a
living or once living thing
 Abiotic:
Key Words
 Organism: any living thing
 Biotic: a term used to describe a
living or once living thing
 Abiotic: a term used to describe
something that was never living
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things are organized
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things are organized

Cell: collection of living matter
enclosed by a barrier that
separates the cell from its
surroundings (cell membrane)
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things are organized

Cell: collection of living matter
enclosed by a barrier that separates
the cell from its surroundings (cell
membrane)

Smallest units of an organism that
can be considered alive
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things are organized.

Cell: collection of living matter
enclosed by a barrier that
separates the cell from its
surroundings (cell membrane)

Smallest units of an organism that
can be considered alive

Single cell: unicellular; Many cells:
multicellular
Cells
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Production of new organisms or cells (healing,
growing)
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Production of new organisms or cells (healing,
growing)

Two types:
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Production of new organisms or cells (healing,
growing)

Two types:
 Sexual reproduction: cells from two different
parents unite to produce the first cell of the
new organism; new mix of genetic material
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Production of new organisms or cells (healing,
growing)

Two types:

Sexual reproduction: cells from two different
parents unite to produce the first cell of the new
organism; new mix of genetic material

Asexual reproduction: new organism has a single
parent; May result when a piece breaks off from
the parent organism or when the parent organism
divides in two
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Reproduction involves the replication of DNA
molecules to pass on hereditary information
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce

Reproduction involves the replication of DNA
molecules to pass on hereditary information

This directs the structure of of the cell and its
metabolism.
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things grow and develop
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things grow and develop

Growth: increase in size (cell number)
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things grow and develop

Growth: increase in size (cell number)

Development: change in shape and
structure of an organism over time
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things grow and develop

Growth: increase in size (cell number)

Development: change in shape and
structure of an organism over time
 Cells go through differentiation to
become specialized
Characteristics of Living Things
 Living things grow and develop

Growth: increase in size (cell number)

Development: change in shape and
structure of an organism over time
 Cells go through differentiation to
become specialized
 May include periods of rapid and
dramatic change (humans,
butterflies, frogs, etc)
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.

Metabolism: combination of chemical
reactions through which an organism builds
up or breaks down materials as it carries out
its life processes
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.

Metabolism: combination of chemical
reactions through which an organism builds
up or breaks down materials as it carries out
its life processes

All organisms take in selected materials from
their environment; how they do so varies
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.

Metabolism: combination of chemical
reactions through which an organism builds
up or breaks down materials as it carries out
its life processes

All organisms take in selected materials from
their environment; how they do so varies
 Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.

Metabolism: combination of chemical
reactions through which an organism builds
up or breaks down materials as it carries out
its life processes

All organisms take in selected materials from
their environment; how they do so varies
 Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)
 Eat food
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use materials and
energy.

Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions
through which an organism builds up or breaks
down materials as it carries out its life processes

All organisms take in selected materials from
their environment; how they do so varies

Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)

Eat food

Breathe/respire
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things respond to their environment.
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things respond to their environment.

Stimulus: signal to which an organism
responds
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things respond to their environment.

Stimulus: signal to which an organism
responds
 External: come from the environment
outside the organism; ex. Light,
temperature (plant roots respond to
gravity by growing down)
Characteristics of Living Things

Living things respond to their environment.

Stimulus: signal to which an organism
responds
 External: come from the environment
outside the organism; ex. Light,
temperature (plant roots respond to
gravity by growing down)
 Internal: come from the environment inside
the organism; ex. Sugar glucose (if it’s low,
your body will respond by making you feel
hungry)
Characteristics of Living Things
Characteristics of Living Things
Living things maintain a
stable internal environment.
Characteristics of Living Things
Living things maintain a
stable internal environment.
Homeostasis: keeping a
stable internal environment

Characteristics of Living Things
Living things maintain a
stable internal environment.
Homeostasis: keeping a
stable internal environment

Ex. When your body
temperature goes too low,
you shiver; muscle movement
creates warmth

Characteristics of Living things
 Living things have
methods for eliminating
waste
Characteristics of Living things
Characteristics of Living things
 Living things have
methods for eliminating
waste

Living things must have a
method for eliminating biproducts or waste products
Characteristics of Living things
 Living things have methods
for eliminating waste

Living things must have a
method for eliminating biproducts or waste products

Ex. In humans, exhaling,
defecation, urination
Characteristics of Living things
 Living things are adapted.

Adaptations: modifications that make an
organism suited to its way of life and environment

Occur through evolution via natural selection

When a new variation arises that allows certain
members of the species to capture more
resources, these members tend to survive and to
have more offspring than the other, unchanged
members.

Over time, the new variation becomes more
prevalent in the population.
Let’s practice…
 Our cat had kittens yesterday.
 Our dog was much smaller when it was a
puppy.
 When you look at a piece of a plant leaf
under a microscope, you see many
smaller divisions.
 My children look a lot like their father.
Let’s practice…
 Our cat had kittens yesterday:
Reproduction
 Our dog was much smaller when it was a
puppy.
 When
you look at a piece of a plant
leaf under a microscope, you see
many smaller divisions.
 My
children look a lot like their father.
Let’s practice…
 Our cat had kittens yesterday:
Reproduction
 Our dog was much smaller when it was a
puppy. Growth
 When
you look at a piece of a plant
leaf under a microscope, you see
many smaller divisions.
 My
children look a lot like their father.
Let’s practice…
 Our cat had kittens yesterday:
Reproduction
 Our dog was much smaller when it was a
puppy. Growth
 When
you look at a piece of a plant
leaf under a microscope, you see
many smaller divisions. Cells
 My
children look a lot like their father.
Let’s practice…
 Our cat had kittens yesterday:
Reproduction
 Our dog was much smaller when it was a
puppy. Growth
 When
you look at a piece of a plant
leaf under a microscope, you see
many smaller divisions. Cells
 My
children look a lot like their father.
Genetic code
More practice…
I
sweat a lot after football practice.
It helps me cool down.
 My
cat ran under the porch when his
car pulled into the driveway.
 Mrs.
Lynch, can I go to the
bathroom?
I
am always tired after I run a mile.
More practice…
I
sweat a lot after football practice.
It helps me cool down.
Homeostasis
 My
cat ran under the porch when his
car pulled into the driveway.
 Mrs.
Lynch, can I go to the
bathroom?
I
am always tired after I run a mile.
More practice…
I
sweat a lot after football practice.
It helps me cool down.
Homeostasis
 My
cat ran under the porch when his
car pulled into the driveway.
Response
 Mrs.
Lynch, can I go to the
bathroom?
I
am always tired after I run a mile.
More practice…
I
sweat a lot after football practice.
It helps me cool down.
Homeostasis
 My
cat ran under the porch when his
car pulled into the driveway.
Response
 Mrs.
Lynch, can I go to the
bathroom? Waste
I
am always tired after I run a mile.
More practice…
I
sweat a lot after football practice.
It helps me cool down.
Homeostasis
 My
cat ran under the porch when his
car pulled into the driveway.
Response
 Mrs.
Lynch, can I go to the
bathroom? Waste
I
am always tired after I run a mile.
Energy