1. Characteristics of Life
Organisms are things that exhibit all of the characteristics of life

2. 1. Organization
Living things are organized into specialized structures that carry out specific functions that help the organism function as a whole
Ex/ Muscles are organized into the muscular system which helps organisms move
Ex/ Organelles like a cell wall protects plant cell, provides structure

3. Multicellular organism = two or more cells working together
Unicellular organisms = one cell (organelles are the structures that carry out each life function)
Multicellular organism = two or more cells working together
Generally, multicellular organisms have different TYPES of cells that do different jobs
They can be organized into more complex systems (tissues, organs, organ systems)

4. Growth and Development
Both unicellular and multicellular organisms grow.
Unicellular - increase in size, Multicellular – increase the number of cells
Development occurs as each living thing goes through its life cycle and matures

5. Reproduction Livings things must be able to create more living things
This can happen in different ways:
Sexual reproduction – requires a mate
Asexual reproduction – one parent (divides, etc.)

6. Response to Stimuli Adjust and respond to changes in the environment
Internal Stimuli – changes within the organisms internal environment
Getting a fever when you are sick, feeling thirsty or hungry
External Stimuli – changes in the environment around an organism
Sweating when its hot, shivering when its cold, eyes dilating when its bright out
Plants grow towards sunlight, animals fluffing their fur when its cold

7. Homeostasis Maintaining stable internal conditions
Each organism has a certain set of requirements that have to remain relatively constant in order for them to be able to function
Ex/ maintaining a certain body temperature, blood pressure, fluid levels, nutrient levels, oxygen levels, etc.

8. Energy
Living things need to obtain (get) and use energy to carry out all of the other life needs
Living things obtain energy in different ways: producers, consumers, decomposers, etc.

9. Homework Choose either a tree or an earthworm.
Explain why it is a living thing and how it shows each characteristic of life.