+7 Characteristics of Life

SevenCharacteristics

of Life

+Objectives:

1. Relate the 7 characteristics of life to living organisms.

2. Describe the importance of cells, reproduction, interdependence, homeostasis, evolution, metabolism and heredity in all living things.

+What is living?

Object___ yes no

Mouse

Kleenex

Cactus

Coral

Dust pan

Bacteria in petri dish

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+What are the characteristics that make them alive?

Individual Brainstorm…List 3 characteristics of living things

Partner Brainstorm….Share lists & come up with 3 more.

Group of 4… read listsCreate your own Top 5 List!Top 5 characteristics that all living things share.

+1. Cellular Structure and FunctionAll living things are made of one or more cells.

CELLS are highly organized tiny structures with thin coverings called membranes.

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic

Simple Complex

(Bacteria) (Animal)

*your body is made of about 100

trillion cells!

+2. Reproduction

All living things can reproduce.

It is the process by which organisms make more of their kind from one generation to the next.

Humans = 9 months, bacteria = 15 minutes

Asexual = Identical copy of parent Ex. Bacteria

Sexual = 2 separate cells combine to form one cell, develops into an organism. Ex. Animals

+3. Interdependence

Organisms in a biological community interact with and affect each other.

They are dependent on one another and their environment.Ex. Deer in Rosemount – What are they

dependent upon?

They grow and survive as a result of finding their niche in the community in which they exist.

+4. Metabolism

Living organisms perform chemical reactions in order to obtain energy to run the processes of life.

It is the sum of all chemical reactions carried out by the organism.hummingbird vs. sloth

Some organisms have the ability to regulate through hibernation/dormancy

+6. Evolution

Populations of living organisms respond to the environment they exist in.

This adaptation can result in changes to the species genes over time.

Change in inherited traits of species over time is evolution.Ex. Peppered Moths

+6. Homeostasis

All living organisms must maintain a stable internal environment in order to function properly.

Stasis = state/conditionHomeo/homo = same/steadyHomo sapiens (Humans) regulate…Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, digestive function, muscle contraction, balance, state of consciousness, etc.

+7. Heredity

All living things are able to pass on their characteristics (traits) to their offspring through genes that are passed from parent to offspring each generation.

Genes = sets of inherited instructions found on DNA.

Mutations = change in the genes (DNA) which may alter the instructionsSome are bad, but may be good…

+Is this organism alive?

Mouse Tree Virus

1. Cells

2. Reproduce

3. Interdependent

4. Metabolism

5. Evolve

6. Homeostasis

7. Heredity

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