All living things must have five key characteristics: 1) cells, 2) use energy, 3) homeostasis, 4) growth through cell division, and 5) reproduction. The document discusses these characteristics and provides examples of each one. Living things are made of cells, require food/energy, regulate internal conditions, grow by cell division, and reproduce offspring that are similar to the parents. Nonliving things do not possess all of these characteristics.

1. Characteristics ofCharacteristics of
Living OrganismsLiving Organisms

2. You are about to see a fewYou are about to see a few
of photographs of livingof photographs of living
and nonliving things. Tryand nonliving things. Try
to figure out what maketo figure out what make
something living orsomething living or
nonliving.nonliving.

14.  There were a total of 11 pictures. 7There were a total of 11 pictures. 7
of them were living things and 4of them were living things and 4
were nonliving things.were nonliving things.
 All living things must have theAll living things must have the
following 5 characteristics to befollowing 5 characteristics to be
considered living.considered living.

15. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
1.1. CellsCells – the basic unit of life; small– the basic unit of life; small
and very complexand very complex
 UnicellularUnicellular – organism made out of one cell– organism made out of one cell
 MulticellularMulticellular – organism is made out of– organism is made out of
more than one cellmore than one cell

17. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
2.2. Energy UseEnergy Use – organisms require– organisms require
energy (food) to survive, grow andenergy (food) to survive, grow and
reproduce.reproduce.
 AutotrophsAutotrophs  organisms thatorganisms that
make their own food (energy).make their own food (energy).
Ex. PlantsEx. Plants
 HeterotrophsHeterotrophs  organisms thatorganisms that
must eat other organisms for foodmust eat other organisms for food
(energy). Ex. Humans(energy). Ex. Humans

19. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
3.3. HomeostasisHomeostasis – a stable level of– a stable level of
internal conditions.internal conditions.
• Ex. A cell controls its water content byEx. A cell controls its water content by
taking and releasing watertaking and releasing water
 Ex. Humans regulate internal bodyEx. Humans regulate internal body
temperature.temperature.

21. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
4.4. GrowthGrowth – living things grow by cell– living things grow by cell
division.division.
 Ex. Humans made up of 50 trillionEx. Humans made up of 50 trillion
cells, which came from one cellcells, which came from one cell
(fertilized egg).(fertilized egg).
 Nonliving things grow byNonliving things grow by
accumulating more material. Ex.accumulating more material. Ex.
Icicles.Icicles.

22. Cell DivisionCell Division

23. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
5.5. ReproductionReproduction – organisms– organisms
produce new organisms likeproduce new organisms like
themselves.themselves.
• It is essential for a species to surviveIt is essential for a species to survive
 Organisms transmit DNA (hereditaryOrganisms transmit DNA (hereditary
information) to their offspring.information) to their offspring.