Characteristics of Living Things Genetics & Heredity
Organisms All living things (fungi, bacteria insects, mammals, etcetera)
Protoplasm All living things (organisms) The fluid living content of the cell (biology-online.org)
Energy Living things obtain and use energy.
Energy - Metabolism Metabolism- all of the chemical reactions an organism needs to survive. Digestion Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration
Cells The cell is the basic unit of life. All living thing are composed of one or more cells. Unicellular or single-celled Multi-cellular – many cells, more complex
Growth & Replacement Cell Division – things grow due to cell division, increase in number of cells Healing damaged tissue (cells)
Life Span Birth Growth Maturation Decline Death
Reproduce Asexually – binary fission Sexually – reproductive material exchange
Responds to Stimuli Responds to environmental stimuli (fight/flight) Adaptation – immediate Evolution – over long periods of time
Classification To be considered a live an organism must exhibit all characteristics of living things.
Works Cited Chem4Kids.com. Metabolism. 21 Nov CliffsNotes.com. Characteristics of Living Things. 21 Nov 2009.