Characteristics of Living Things

(1) Have Cells –membrane covered structures that have all materials needed for life Unicellular = 1 cell Multicellular = more than 1 cell

Have DNA (2) DNA is responsible for heredity Heredity: passing on of traits from parent to offspring (passed through DNA) DNA has instructions to make proteins that run body by chemical reactions (made of amino acids)

Respond to Stimuli (3) Organisms react to a stimulus (a change) Organisms try to maintain homeostasis (constant internal environment) Chemical reactions that keep body alive need homeostasis so they can occur

Use Energy (4) To carry out life activities like: For making food (plants) For breaking down food (both) Taking in food = ingestion Breaking down food = digestion For building cells (both) Metabolism – all chemical reactions that an organism carries out

Grow and Develop (5) Growth: Development: Cells grow larger Cells multiply Development: Change in organism as it grows

Reproduce (6) Keeps species alive Asexual – single parent = identical offspring (unicellular) Sexual – 2 parents = offspring have traits of both parents (protists, fungus, plants & animals)

Excrete Waste (7) Waste released so it doesn’t poison body Two wastes we release are carbon dioxide and urine