CHARACTERISTICS OF
LIVING THINGS
1. Made up of Cells

Unicellular – made of one
cell (ex. Ameba)

Multicellular – made of
many cells (more than one
– ex. Human)
2. Can Reproduce

Asexual reproduction – new
organism forms from a single
parent

Sexual reproduction – 2 cells from
different parents unite to produce
a new organism
3. Based on a Genetic Code

Mostly DNA
(Double Helix)
4. Grow and Develop
•Metamorphosis
5. Obtain and use Materials
and Energy


Food & Oxygen
Metabolism – chemical
reactions through which an
organism builds up or breaks
down materials as it carries out
its life processes
6. Respond to their Environment




Fight or Flight
Stimulus – signal to which
an organism responds
Stimulus is produced as a
function of the nervous
system
An organism reacts to
stimuli following a pathway
(neuron) through the
nervous system to produce
a response
7. Maintaining Internal Balance

Homeostasis –
process by which
organisms maintain
a relatively stable
internal
environment (ex.
Body temperature
– hot/cold)
8. Evolution

Taken as a group, living
things change over time
CHARACTERISTICS OF
LIVING THINGS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Made up of Cells 5. Obtain and use
Materials and
Can Reproduce
Energy
Based on a
6. Respond to their
Genetic Code
Environment
Grow and
7. Maintaining
Develop
Internal Balance
8. Evolution
Examples – Alive, Dead or
Nonliving

Bacteria


Water


Nonliving
Wooden Door


Alive
Dead
Fire

Nonliving
RELATING HUMAN SYSTEMS
TO CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
Characteristics vs. Human
of life
Systems

Obtain Materials




Transport
Use Materials and
energy

Reproduce


Digestive &
Respiratory
Circulatory
Muscular, Digestive,
Respiratory &
Circulatory
Reproductive &
Endocrine
Characteristics vs. Human
of life
Systems

Grow and develop

Maintain a stable
environment
(Homeostasis)

Skeletal, Muscular &
Integumentary

Nervous, Endocrine,
Circulatory, Respiratory,
Digestive, Excretory,
Integumentary, Immune
& Lymphatic
Characteristics vs. Human
of life
Systems

Respond to stimuli

Nervous

Change over time

Reproductive

Possess genetic
material based on
a universal code

Reproductive