Living Things Notes: *What are the characteristics that all living things share? *How are all living organisms classified? NC Standards: 8.L.4.1

What do all of these things have in common?

What are the main characteristics of ALL living things? 1.They obtain and use resources for energy. 2.They respond to stimuli. 3.They reproduce. 4.They grow and develop. 5.They have cells and are organized.

1.They obtain and use resources for energy: All organisms must obtain (get) resources, which provide energy to perform the basic functions of life In other words…we need to get food and water in order to grow and develop!

Got Energy?

#1 continued Plants provide their own food for energy through photosynthesis. Most other organisms must find an external source for food. Very few organisms that are not plants may use photosynthesis.

2. Organisms respond to stimuli: A Stimulus is any change in an organism’s surroundings that will cause the organism to react. Examples of environmental stimulus: –Changes in: amount of light Temperature Sound Amount of water Space Types of food present

For Example: Stimulus Response You bake cookies Your Sister smells the cookies and comes running!

#2 continued The reaction to a stimulus is called a response. This can be an action or behavior performed by the organism. Non-living things do not respond to environmental changes this way.

Another Example: Stimulus: Plant feels bug Response: Plant traps bug

3. They reproduce. Organisms have the ability to reproduce or produce offspring that have similar characteristics as the parents. Two ways to reproduce: –Sexual – Asexual

Types of Reproduction Asexual ReproductionSexual Reproduction

#3 continued: Two basic types of reproduction –Sexual – involves 2 parents, female-egg, male-sperm, egg and sperm combine to make an offspring that is different from both parents. –Asexual – a reproductive process that involves only one parent that produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

4. They grow and develop. All organisms require energy to grow and develop!! Growth is the process by which an organism becomes larger or gains more cells. Development is the process that occurs in the life of the organism that results in the organism becoming more complex structurally.

Growth and development

5. They are organized. All organisms are made of cells. The cell is the smallest unit of an organism that carries on the functions of life. Some organisms are composed of just one cell, while others are composed of many of the same cell or many different types of cells.

All living things have cells Cell without a NucleusCell with a nucleus

Classification or taxonomy  a system of categorizing organisms based on shared observable characteristics. You use a dichotomous key! (you can use a dichotomous key to categorizing living AND non-living things!) How are all living organisms classified?