7 Characteristics of Life Seven Characteristics of Life

Relate the 7 characteristics of life to living organisms. Objectives: Relate the 7 characteristics of life to living organisms. Describe the importance of cells, reproduction, interdependence, homeostasis, evolution, metabolism and heredity in all living things.

What is living? X Object___ yes no Mouse Kleenex Cactus Coral Dust pan Bacteria in petri dish X

What are the characteristics that make them alive? Individual Brainstorm… List 3 characteristics of living things Partner Brainstorm…. Share lists & come up with 3 more. Group of 4… read lists Create your own Top 5 List! Top 5 characteristics that all living things share.

1. Cellular Structure and Function All living things are made of one or more cells. CELLS are highly organized tiny structures with thin coverings called membranes. Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Simple Complex (Bacteria) (Animal) *your body is made of about 100 trillion cells!

All living things can reproduce. 2. Reproduction All living things can reproduce. It is the process by which organisms make more of their kind from one generation to the next. Humans = 9 months, bacteria = 15 minutes Asexual = Identical copy of parent Ex. Bacteria Sexual = 2 separate cells combine to form one cell, develops into an organism. Ex. Animals

They are dependent on one another and their environment. 3. Interdependence Organisms in a biological community interact with and affect each other. They are dependent on one another and their environment. Ex. Deer in Rosemount – What are they dependent upon? They grow and survive as a result of finding their niche in the community in which they exist.

It is the sum of all chemical reactions carried out by the organism. 4. Metabolism Living organisms perform chemical reactions in order to obtain energy to run the processes of life. It is the sum of all chemical reactions carried out by the organism. hummingbird vs. sloth Some organisms have the ability to regulate through hibernation/dormancy

This adaptation can result in changes to the species genes over time. 6. Evolution Populations of living organisms respond to the environment they exist in. This adaptation can result in changes to the species genes over time. Change in inherited traits of species over time is evolution. Ex. Peppered Moths

Stasis = state/condition Homeo/homo = same/steady 6. Homeostasis All living organisms must maintain a stable internal environment in order to function properly. Stasis = state/condition Homeo/homo = same/steady Homo sapiens (Humans) regulate… Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, digestive function, muscle contraction, balance, state of consciousness, etc.

7. Heredity All living things are able to pass on their characteristics (traits) to their offspring through genes that are passed from parent to offspring each generation. Genes = sets of inherited instructions found on DNA. Mutations = change in the genes (DNA) which may alter the instructions Some are bad, but may be good…

Is this organism alive? X X X X X Cells Reproduce Interdependent Mouse Tree Virus Cells Reproduce Interdependent Metabolism Evolve Homeostasis Heredity X X X X X