1. Characteristics of Living Things and Necessities of Life
April, 2012

2. Six Characteristics of Living Things
1. Made of 1 or more cells
the smallest unit
can perform all life
functions
has all the materials
necessary for life

3. Six Characteristics of Living Things
2. sense and respond to change
Stimulus-anything that causes a reaction or change in an organism
Homeostasis-maintaining a constant internal state in a changing environment

5. Six Characteristics of Living Things
3. reproduce
Asexual reproduction - single parent produces identical offspring
Sexual reproduction - two parents produce offspring

6. Six Characteristics of Living Things
4. have DNA
DNA- controls structure and function of cells
Heredity - passing of traits from one generation to the next

7. Six Characteristics of Living Things
5. use energy
Metabolism –
total of all the chemical activities the organism performs
Photosynthesis

8. Six Characteristics of Living Things
6. grow and develop
all living things get larger and change as they grow (unicellular organisms divide)

9. Necessities of Life Most living things are made up of mostly water
Humans are about 70% water

10. Necessities of Life 2. Air
oxygen and carbon dioxide used by almost every organism

11. Necessities of Life 3. Shelter
some organisms stay in one place, others migrate

12. Necessities of Life
4. Food
used for energy

13. Where energy comes from:
Producers
plants use light of sun to make sugar glucose from water and carbon dioxide

14. Where energy comes from:
2. Consumers
eat plants and other animals, cannot make their own food

15. Where energy comes from:
3. Decomposers
break down the nutrients in dead plants and animals