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Characteristics of Life

Characteristics of Life. Objectives. List six characteristics of life Describe how a living thing is organized Explain why all living things on Earth are not yet well understood. The Characteristics of Life. How can you tell if something is alive?. The Characteristics of Life.

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Characteristics of Life

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  1. Characteristics of Life

  2. Objectives • List six characteristics of life • Describe how a living thing is organized • Explain why all living things on Earth are not yet well understood

  3. The Characteristics of Life How can you tell if something is alive?

  4. The Characteristics of Life • Biologists have devised a list of 6 characteristics that define life. • Something can be considered alive ONLY if it displays ALL 6 of the characteristics. Anything that possesses all 6 of the characteristics of life is called an organism.

  5. The 6 characteristics of life: • 1. Made up of Cell(s) • 2. Cellular Organization celltissueorgansystemorganism • 3. Growth & Development • 4. Reproduction • 5. Adaptation to environment – response to a stimulus • 6. Maintaining Homeostasis

  6. 1. Cells • Basic unit of life • All living things are made up of one or more cells • Cells are made up of smaller parts called organelles

  7. 2. Cellular Organization • Cell -> Tissue -> Organ -> Organ System -> Organism • Specific parts of cells (organelles) carry out different functions

  8. 3. Growth & Development • All living organisms grow and develop during their life spans. • Growth: an increase in the size of an organism due to an increase in the size and number of cells • Development: all of the changes that take place throughout the life span of an organism

  9. 4. Reproduction All living organisms are able to produce live offspring. • Species produce offspring similar to themselves • NOT essential of the survival of an individual organism • Essential for continuation of the species

  10. All living organisms are able to adapt to their surroundings. They are able to react, or respond to an environmental condition, or stimulus. 5. Adaptation to Environment:

  11. 6. Homeostasis • All living organisms are able to maintain a relatively constant internal environment. • Homeostasis: Maintain a constant stable internal environment suitable for life • When an organisms is unable to maintain homeostasis it dies • Metabolism provides the raw materials and energy to maintain homeostasis • Metabolism: sum of all the chemical reactions that occur in the organism

  12. The Living World • World of biology is rich with organisms and diverse with different types of life yet many organism have yet to be discovered this and more will be discussed in classification.

  13. Fun Facts about Organisms • Largest Animal Alive Today • Blue Whale • 30 meters in length = 120 feet • weigh up to 130 metric tons (= 30 elephants) • Largest Plant Alive Today • Giant Sequoia Tree • height over 100 meters = 300 feet

  14. More Fun Facts • Smallest Living Things • Bacteria • As small as 1000 nanometers in length • Viruses • 100 times smaller than bacteria but can’t be classified as an organism. • Are viruses alive?

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