What Makes Something Alive? The 8 characteristics of living things

1. Cells All living things contain cells All living things contain cells Organisms can be: Organisms can be: Unicellular – 1 cell Unicellular – 1 cell Multicellular – many cells Multicellular – many cells Living things are highly organized: Living things are highly organized: Cells  Tissue  Organ  Organ system  Organism Cells  Tissue  Organ  Organ system  Organism

2. Reproduction All living things can reproduce to make more of their species All living things can reproduce to make more of their species Two types of reproduction: Two types of reproduction: Sexual reproduction – 2 parents Sexual reproduction – 2 parents Asexual reproduction – 1 parent Asexual reproduction – 1 parent

3. DNA All living things contain genetic material that they pass on to their offspring All living things contain genetic material that they pass on to their offspring This is why children often look like their parents! This is why children often look like their parents!

4. Growth All living things grow and develop throughout their life

5. Energy All living things need energy in order to survive All living things need energy in order to survive Two ways to get energy: Two ways to get energy: Plants make it themselves (autotrophic) Plants make it themselves (autotrophic) Animals get it from the food they eat (heterotrophic) Animals get it from the food they eat (heterotrophic)

6. Response to Environment/Stimuli Living things respond to changes in their environment Living things respond to changes in their environment Unlike adaptations, these changes are immediate and take place in an individual organism Unlike adaptations, these changes are immediate and take place in an individual organism Examples: Examples: Blinking, flinching Blinking, flinching Plants growing towards sunlight Plants growing towards sunlight

7. Homeostasis Living things must maintain an internal balance in order to survive Living things must maintain an internal balance in order to survive Some examples are: Some examples are: Shivering to heat up Shivering to heat up Increasing heart rate when running Increasing heart rate when running Thirst response when dehydrated Thirst response when dehydrated

8. Adaptation to Change Living things change over time Living things change over time This usually takes many generations This usually takes many generations Adaptations take place in groups of organisms, not individuals Adaptations take place in groups of organisms, not individuals Examples: Examples: Plants that are adapted to live in the desert Plants that are adapted to live in the desert Drug resistant bacteria Drug resistant bacteria