What characteristics do all living things share?

The Six

Characteristics of Living Things

I Am Alive!• Dog

• Flower

• Bug

• Kid

• Tree

• Man

• Cat

• Fish

6 Characteristics of Living Things

1. All living things are organized A cell is every organism’s smallest unit of life.

Cell:

A membrane covered structure that contains all of the materials necessary for life

Organisms: Things that have all the characteristics of Life

• All organisms are classified as either unicellular or multicellular

– Unicellular organisms are organisms made of only one cell. Unicellular organisms have

specialized structures, much like a house has rooms for different activities.

Multicellular

– Living things that are made of two or more cells are called multicellular organisms.

• Cells are organized into groups and have specialized functions

http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.stru.different/

6 Characteristics of Living Things

2. All living things grow and develop• A unicellular object grows as the cell

increases in size

• Multicellular organisms grow as the number of their cells increases.

All living things grow and develop

• Changes that occur in an organism during its lifetime are called development.

• In multicellular organisms, development happens as cells become specialized into different cell types.

6 Characteristics of Living Things

3. All living things reproduce (have babies)

Reproduction:

• Reproduction is the process by which one organism makes one or more new organisms.

• Some organisms can reproduce without a mate by dividing and becoming two new organisms. (asexual reproduction)

• Some organisms have specialized cells for reproduction and must have a mate. (sexual reproduction)

Asexual Reproduction:

• In Asexual Reproduction, a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

Sexual Reproduction:

• In Sexual Reproduction, two parents are required to produce offspring that will share characteristics of both parents

6 Characteristics of Living Things

4. All living things respond to stimuli in their environment

Stimulus: Change in an organism’s environment that affects the activity of an organism, organ, or tissue

All living things respond to changes in the environment called stimuli. There

are two types of stimuli:• Internal stimuli are changes within an organism.

• Ex. Hunger, Thirst

• External stimuli are changes in an organism’s environment.

• Ex. Light, Temperature• Can you think of any other examples of stimuli in your

environment?

6 Characteristics of Living Things

5. Maintain Homeostasis• An organism’s ability to maintain steady internal

conditions when outside conditions change is called homeostasis

• Maintaining homeostasis ensures that cells and the organism can function normally and remain healthy.

• Example: body temperature, blood sugar

6 Characteristics of Living Things

6. All living things use energy• Cells continuously use energy to

transport substances, make new cells, and perform chemical reactions.

• For most organisms, energy for life comes from the Sun. The Sun’s energy can be passed from one organism to another.

Energy use:

What Did You Learn?

All living things:

• Are organized

• Grow & develop

• Reproduce (have babies).

• Respond to stimuli

• Display homeostasis

• Use energy• http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.alive/

4 Needs of Living Things

1. All living things need food for energy

Producer

• An organism that uses sunlight directly to make sugar (food)

• Example: Plants

Consumer

• An organism that eats producers or other organisms for energy.

• Example: Animals

Decomposer

• An organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms and consuming or absorbing the nutrients.

• Example: fungus

4 Needs of Living Things

2. All living things need water

4 Needs of Living Things

3. All living things need air

4 Needs of Living Things

4. All living things need living space