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Uploaded byBridget.Bradshaw
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8 characteristics of living things in detail

The document outlines the 8 key characteristics that define living things: 1) Have cells and DNA, 2) Reproduce, 3) Grow and develop, 4) Use energy, 5) Have needs for resources and energy, 6) Respond to their environment and stimuli, 7) Maintain internal balance, and 8) Evolve over time as a species. It provides examples for each characteristic and explains concepts like cells, DNA, reproduction, growth, energy usage, response to stimuli, homeostasis, and evolution.

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All things considered to be alive have what characteristics in common?  Make a list of reasons why you think the following organisms are considered “alive”.  Group that comes the closest wins…
8 characteristics of living things - Have cells and DNA - Reproduce - Grow and Develop - Use energy - Have a need for resources and energy - Respond to environment/stimuli - Maintain internal balance - Evolve over time as a species
1. HAVE CELLS AND DNA  Multi-cellular: cells differentiate from a single fertilized egg cell, and they just “know” to become a heart, leg etc.  Uni-cellular : one celled organism (amoeba or bacteria)  Both above have DNA ( the genetic code: which is why we look like our parents)
Multi-cellular start off a single cell…
2. All living things reproduce  There are 2 ways in which this can be done…
2. All living things Reproduce  There are 2 types of reproduction:  Asexual : 1 parent (budding) - identical  Bacteria  Plants  Sexual: 2 parents  cats  people
3. Living things grow and develop  What is the difference between the 2 words?
Growth and Development  Bacteria- grow, they just increase in size  People – grow and develop … they increase in size and their bodily functions change over time….until they become an adult  ex) puberty…  Plants grow and develop  from acorn to tree
4. Living things use energy to …… grow/ develop/ reproduce
Living things use energy to grow/develop/reproduce… or just stay alive  Where do we get energy from?  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up and breaks down materials (will release energy) as it carries out life processes  Fast metabolism- break down  Slow metabolism – store for later
Where are they getting energy from?
How obtain energy?  Plants: From the sun’s energy “photosynthesis”  Lion: From eating other organisms “herbivore, carnivore”  Mushroom: From the remains of dead organisms (decomposers)
6. Living things respond to stimuli
6. Respond to stimulus  Stimulus- signal to which an organism responds  Response- (what they do because of the signal)  Internal stimulus- ex.) sugar levels drop? …then you feel hungry  External: ex.) flower leans toward the window in a classroom
Practice Stimulus and Response  My niece kicked me in the shin and I screamed  I slammed the door and the class jumped  I turned the light on and the mouse ran under the table  I placed my hand on the hot stove and I yanked it back and yelped
7. Maintain internal balance
7. Maintain internal balance  External: conditions may vary widely  But internal…. Should be kept constant.. This is homeostasis  Ex) temperature 98.6 F, water content, etc  Ex of how it happens?  Shivering/sweating  Thirst/feeling of fullness
Evolve over time …
8. Evolve over time :Evolution  100,000’s of millions of years…changes can be dramatic within a species…  ex) pre-historic horse was the size of a Barbie doll horse