Characteristics of Life
Question of the Day
Question: What makes something alive or not?
Answer: … … …
Characteristics of Life
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Composed of cells
Genetic code
Obtain and use materials and energy
Grow and develop
Reproduce
Respond to their environment
Maintain a stable internal environment
Change over time (evolve)
p. 25, A.Q.’s 1ab, 2b
• 1a. Question: List the characteristics that
define life.
• 1a. The characteristics that define life are that
living things are made up of one or more basic
units called cells, are based on a universal
genetic code, obtain and use material and
energy, grow and develop, reproduce, respond
to their environment, maintain a stable
internal environment, and, as a group, change
over time.
p. 25, A.Q.’s 1ab, 2b
• 1b. Question: Suppose you feel hungry, so you
reach for a plum you see in a fruit bowl.
Explain how both external and internal stimuli
are involved in your action.
• 1b. A stimulus is a signal to which an organism
responds. In this case, hunger is an internal
stimulus, and the sight of the plum is and
external stimulus.
p. 25, A.Q.’s 1ab, 2b
• 2b. Question: Suppose you discover a new
organism. What would you expect to see if
you studied it under a microscope?
• 2b. Like all organisms, this newly discovered
organism would consist of cells if it were
studied under a microscope.
p. 20, Analyzing Data
• 1. Question: Which plan parts do siamangs
rely on most as a source of their matter and
energy?
• 1. Siamangs rely on
leaves the most as a
source of their matter
and energy.
p. 20, Analyzing Data
• 2. Question: How would siamangs be affected
if the rainforests the live in were cut down?
• 2. If the siamangs’ rainforests were cut down,
theses animals would not be able to get the
food they need. This is because siamang
gibbons are dependent on the trees in the
rainforest as most of their diet is made up of
Malaysia &
plant material.
Indonesia