ORGANISM Any living thing 7 Characteristics of Living Things GAS EXCHANGE The process of moving gases into and out of the body All animals breathe in oxygen and let out carbon dioxide FEEDING All organisms need food and water for energy Animals need energy to grow, move, think, and breathe EXCRETION All organisms need to get rid of waste products (gases, liquids, or solids) RESPOND to the ENVIRONMENT All organisms react to changes in their environment Adaptations GROW All organisms get larger and more complicated as they grow REPRODUCE All organisms need to reproduce to keep their species alive CELLS All organisms are made up of cells