Characteristics of Life
Vocabulary : Make Flash Cards











Respiration
Aerobic
Anaerobic
Cells
Metabolism
Synthesis
Homeostasis
Organic
Inorganic
Autotroph
Heterotroph
 Opening Activity = Set
up your flashcard
fronts for these 11
vocabulary words.
 Do the definitions on
the back, for
homework
Definitions
 Respiration: Getting energy from
food.
 Aerobic: Using oxygen.
 Anaerobic: Lacking oxygen.
 Cells: Living matter enclosed by a
barrier. The basic unit of life.
More Definitions
 Metabolism: Chemical reactions that break
down or build up materials to support life.
 Synthesis: Making complex molecules from
less complex molecules.
 Homeostasis: Keeping internal and
external conditions balanced. (Thermostat
on a furnace – Shivering produces heat)
Organic or Inorganic?
 Organic means that something has
the element carbon in it. Living
things have carbon and so they are
considered organic.
 Inorganic: Nonliving things,
generally lack carbon and are
considered inorganic. The one
exception is carbon dioxide it is
inorganic and contains carbon
Autotroph and Heterotroph
 Autotrophs produce their own food.
 Heterotrophs ingest their food.
 These methods both provide an
organism with the necessary
nutrients to live.
 Assimilation: is how these nutrients
become part of the organism.
8 Characteristics of Life
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Made of One or More Cells
Reproduce
Based on Genetic Code (DNA)
Grow and Develop
Obtain and Use Nutrients and Energy
Respond to Environment
Maintain Stable Internal Environment
Evolve or Change Over Time
1. Made of One or More Cells

A cell is a living unit enclosed
by a barrier called a
membrane

Unicellular = 1 cell

Multicellular= More than one
cell

Some cells are specialized
and have specific jobs.

Cells can grow, reproduce
and respond to environment
1. Made of One or More Cells
a.) CELL: Collection of living material
enclosed within a barrier
b.) cells are basic unit of life
c.) Unicellular: made up of one cell
d.) Multicellular: made up of many cells
Unicellular
Multicellular
2. Reproduce
 Sexual – cells from
2 different parents
unite to form the
first cell of the new
organism
 Asexual – One
parent can divide
or bud to form two
organisms that are
identical
Asexual
Reproduction = produce offspring
which resemble parents
Sexual
a.) asexual reproduction: has only
one parent
b.) sexual reproduction: requires
two parents
3. Based on Genetic Code
 Inherited traits are
carried by DNA –
deoxyribonucleic acid
 Asexual reproduction
provides one set of
traits
 Sexual reproduction
combines the traits of
2 parents
4. Grow and Develop
 Growth – Increase in
size. Multicellular and
unicellular organisms
grow
 Develop – Changes in
shape and structure
 Lifespan – How long
an organism lives
 Life Cycle – Staged of
development
4. Grow and Develop
a.) GROWTH: increase in size & shape
b.) DEVELOPMENT: mature over time
c.) living things have a lifespan
Growth
Development
5. Obtain and Use Nutrients and
Energy
 Chemical reactions
called metabolism
require energy
 All organisms take in
materials to provide
the energy
 Sunlight provides
energy for producers
or autotrophs
 Food provides the
energy for consumers
or heterotrophs
5. Living Things Use & Need
Energy
a.) energy comes from food, used to
maintain body b.) AUTOTROPH:
produce own food
c.)
HETEROTROPH: must consume food
d.) DECOMPOSER: breaks down dead
material for food
6. Respond to Environment
 Responds to a
stimulus or signal
 External =light,
temperature,
gravity
 Internal = Blood
sugar, CO
6. Respond to their Environment
a.) React to a stimulus
b.) An action causes a
reaction
c. ) A reaction is called a response
d.) This involves one individual
7. Maintain Stable Internal
Environment
 Homeostasiskeeping internal
conditions
balanced to survive
 Examples:
temperature and
water
 How? Feedback
mechanisms, like a
thermostat on a
furnace
7. Living things maintain a stable internal
environment
a.) HOMEOSTASIS: internal balance
b.) examples: sweating, panting, shivering, etc.
8. Evolve and Change Over Time
 Individuals may experience many changes
in their life span but their basic traits are
the same.
 As a group a species will change over time
and the general traits will be different.
8. Evolve and change over time
a.) adapt to long-range changes in
environment
b.) change to better survive in
environment
c.) these changes take place over a long
period of time & involve the entire
species
Quiz 2: The following are all examples of the characteristics of life.
Identify each one.
A. Adapt
D. genetic code
G. Respond to stimulus
B. Made of cells
E. Grow and develop H. Homeostasis
C. Reproduce
F. Use/need energy
1. You eat a hamburger for lunch.
2. A baby gains 3 pounds in one week and begins to recognize voices.
3. A polar bear has white fur to blend in with the snow.
4. Your start to cry whenever you get a shot at the doctor’s office.
5. You begin to shiver because it is cold outside.
6. Red and white particles make up part of your blood.
7. A chick breaks out of an egg.
Levels of Organization





Individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Individual
 The same species
can breed and
have fertile
offspring
Population
 Many of the same
species living in a
specific place
Community
 The
popuations
of living
organisms
that are
found in
specific area
Ecosystems
 The Biotic and
Abiotic factors
found in a given
area
Biome
 A group of
ecosystems
within a
certain
climate
containing
specific
dominant
species.
Biology is the study of_____
Biology is the study of_____
 The living world.
Is photosynthesis required to be
considered a living thing?
Is photosynthesis required to be
considered a living thing?
 NO
Specialized cells allow cells
to____________
Specialized cells allow cells
to____________
 Perform different functions
What is Homeostasis?
What is Homeostasis?
 Homeostasis is the process of keeping
internal conditions stable.
Name two things that are stimuli.
Name two things that are stimuli.
 Light
 Temperature
What is metabolism?
What is metabolism?
 Chemical processes in your body like
building up or breaking down
nutrients
Describe two ways organisms
might respond to environment.
Describe ways organisms might
respond to environment.
Shivering in the cold
Birds fly south
Pupils constrict when exposed to light
Cells shrink when exposed to salt
water
 Trees drop their leaves in the autumn




To be in a community you must
live_______
To be in a community you must
live_______
 You must live in the same area.
 You cannot be located on the other
side of the river or in a distant part of
the forest.
How would you know if something
were a living organism?
How would you know if something
were a living organism?








Made of One or More Cells
Reproduce
Based on Genetic Code (DNA)
Grow and Develop
Obtain and Use Nutrients and Energy
Respond to Environment
Maintain Stable Internal Environment
Evolve or Change Over Time