Characteristics are traits or qualities.
Here is the list of characteristics
shared by living things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cellular organization
Reproduction
Metabolism
Homeostasis
Heredity
Response to stimuli
Growth and development
Adaptation through evolution
Terms:
Cellular Organization = The
components of a cell and the
arrangements of these individual parts
within the cell form the cellular
organization. Cells, the basic unit of
life, are of 2 types: prokaryotic cells
(bacteria) and eukaryotic cells (fungi,
algae, protozoa, plants, and animals).
Reproduction = Reproduction is a
demonstration of the ability of an
organism to produce a new organism
referred to as an offspring. There are
two forms of reproduction. These are
sexual reproduction and asexual
reproduction.
Metabolism = Metabolism is a term
that is used to describe all chemical
reactions involved in maintaining the
living state of the cells and the
organism. Metabolism can be
conveniently divided into two
categories:
Catabolism
the
breakdown of molecules to obtain
energy Anabolism - the synthesis of
all compounds needed by the cells
Homeostasis = is the ability to
maintain a constant internal
environment in response to
environmental changes.
Heredity = The passing of genetic
factors from parent to offspring (or
from one generation to the next). The
genetic constitution of an individual.
Difference between Homeostasis and
Heredity = Due to metabolism of the
body, certain properties of the
internal properties (internal body
temperature, pH etc.) could be
changed. Regulating and keeping
these properties in constant level is
done by homeostasis
Stimulus = Stimulus is something
that causes a reaction in an organ or
cell

Adaptation = The adjustment or
changes in behavior, physiology, and
structure of an organism to become
more suited to an environment
Evolution = The change in genetic
composition of a population over
successive generations, which may
be caused by natural selection,
inbreeding, hybridization, or
mutation.
Difference of Adaptation and
Evolution = All living things change
through time in order to survive in
their environment. Adaptation
involves short-term changes to suit
the habitat and environment.
Evolution is a long-term process
wherein changes occur at the genetic
level for a better functioning and
survival as a race. Adaptation is a
form of evolution which means
change over time. Not all evolution
changes adapt the organism to its
surroundings.
DNA = Deoxyribonucleic acid.
General Characteristics of Life
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Made up of cells They can
be either unicellular or
multicellular.
There are two types of
reproduction: asexual and
sexual.
Based on a genetic code,
DNA is the genetic code
found in every cell. DNA is
inherited from parents and
controls your traits.
Grow and Develop, all living
things grow and develop
during at least part of their
life.
Need for materials and
energy, living things need a
constant supply of materials
and energy (Metabolism).
Response to the
environment, Organisms
detect and respond to
STIMULI (or signals) from
their environment.
Internal Stimuli – signal comes
from inside the organism
External Stimuli - signal comes
from outside the organism

Maintaining internal balance,
despite changing conditions
around them, organism must
keep their internal conditions
stable/balanced.
(Homeostasis)
Change over time, over
hundreds, thousands, and
millions of years, organisms
have the potential to change
(evolution).
Unifying Principles of Biology:
the cell theory, states that all living
things are made of one or more cells,
or the secretions of those cells.
the gene theory, an organism's traits
are encoded in their DNA, the large
molecule, or macromolecule, that
holds the instructions needed to build
cells and organisms.
homeostasis, is the ability of an
organism to control its body
functions in order to uphold a stable
internal environment even when its
external environment changes.
evolutionary theory. s the theory that
maintains that a population's
inherited traits change over time, and
that all known organisms have a
common origin.
Problem: Can inductive reasoning be
used to formally prove something?
No.
Problem: What is the basic role of
inductive reasoning in geometry?
Inductive reasoning leads people to
form hypotheses based on
observations made. Then these
hypotheses can be tested rigorously
using other methods. Inductive
reasoning is how people make
generalizations about sets of things
and form hypotheses accordingly.
Problem: Take the following
scenario: Jim is a barber. Everybody
who gets his hair cut by Jim gets a
good haircut. Austin got a good
haircut. What can you deduce about
Austin?
Nothing. Just because Austin got a
good haircut does not mean that Jim
cut his hair. This is always possible,
but nothing can be deduced from the
situation.
Problem: All dogs are mammals, and
all mammals are vertebrates. Shaggy
is a dog. What can be deduced about
shaggy?
Shaggy is a mammal and a
vertebrate.