WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT  Answer these on your warm up page.  What makes something alive?  How have you tested if something was alive in the past?  What do all living things share in common?  Can something be alive that does not have all the characteristics of life?

BEFORE WE START  Why do we do projects?  Why do I give the answers I do? “That could work.” “It’s up to you.” “You tell me.”  Learned Helplessness

WHAT MAKES SOMETHING ALIVE?  The biological answer is that there are 8 characteristics all living things share: They are made up of cells. They reproduce. They have DNA. They grow and develop. They consume and use material and energy. They respond to stimuli. They maintain a stable environment inside. They change over time.

MADE UP OF CELLS  Cells are the smallest unit of life and all things bigger are made of cells.  Think of the Cell Theory.

REPRODUCE  The living organism must create more life.  It cannot just be alive itself.

DNA  Deoxyribonucleic Acid  All life has it…

GROW AND DEVELOP  Living things follow their own pattern of growth.  Some change their appearance, others do not.

CONSUME AND USE ENERGY  Living things must intake and use energy.  Plants use sunlight, animals eat other living things.

RESPOND TO STIMULI  If it is touched, it will react.  Any signal organism get, there is a reaction.  What are some stimuli we react too?

HOMEOSTASIS  Organisms keep their organs in a stable condition  We don’t like getting too hot or too cold.

ADAPTATION AND EVOLUTION  Organisms will change over time.  Also, they adapt to their environment.

FINAL QUESTION  So, with all that you have learned about what makes something to be considered alive, Is fire alive?