What are Living Things?

Scientists believe there are approximately 8.7 million species on earth.

However, there are 5 characteristics that all living things share.

Cell: is a membrane-covered structure that contains all of the material necessary for life.

Smallest unit of life that has all of the structure to perform life functions.

Unicellular: single cell (1)

Multicellular: more than 1 cell

All living things have the ability to sense change in their environment and respond.

Stimulus: a change that affects the activity of an organism.

This can include: gravity, light, hunger, fear, sound, etc.

Homeostasis: maintenance of stable internal conditions.

Even if outside conditions change, the internal conditions of a living organism stay constant.

Hot= Sweat, Cold=Shiver

Being just right...

Organisms make other organisms through reproduction.

When organisms reproduce they pass copies of all of their DNA to their offspring.

DNA is the genetic material that contains instructions for how cells should look and function.

Sexual Reproduction: 2 parents produce an offspring and the offspring has characteristics of both parents.

This occurs in most plants and animals.

Asexual Reproduction: a single parent produces an offspring that is identical to the parent.

Most unicellular and some animals and plants

Budding: new organism grows on parent then splits.

Binary Fusion: 1 splits into 2

Energy is needed to carry out the functions of life.

Energy allows organisms to: make and break down food, move and interact with the environment, and build new cells.

Energy comes from food.

All living things grow during their lives.

Unicellular: grows, gets larger, divides into 2 new cells.

Multicellular: grows, # of cells increase, gets larger/bigger

As living things grow and mature their bodies change.