1. The Characteristics of Living Things
Science Team
Westminster High School
Fall 2008

2. Key Ideas The Leaner will be able to
describe characteristics of living things;
describe how life can be studied at different levels;
define:
biology, cell, sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, evolve

3. Living things are made up of units called cells.

4. Living things reproduce.

5. Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

6. Living things grow and develop.

7. Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

8. Living things respond to their environment.

9. Living things maintain a stable internal environment.
Homeostasis

10. Taken as a group, living things change over time.

11. Vocabulary biology cell sexual reproduction asexual reproduction
science that seeks to understand the living world (bios  life; -logy  the study of)
cell
basic unit of life
sexual reproduction
two cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism
asexual reproduction
the new organism has a single parent
metabolism
the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out life processes
homeostasis
the process by which organisms keep their internal conditions relatively stable
evolve
change over time