CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS

FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK:

Lesson 1:  Characteristics of Life

Organism - An individual or single plant, animal, or single celled life-form 

Characteristics of all Life-Forms (Organisms)

     1.  Composed of Cells - Made of the smallest units of life.  Has all the components to grow and survive.

     2.  Heredity - The passing of DNA from parent to offspring.                                  

     3.  Metabolism - Gaining energy from chemical reactions with food.  

     4.  Homeostasis - Ways to make your body comfortable within a certain range.

     5.  Growth - Either through cell division + enlargement, or simple cell enlargement.  

     6.  Reproduction - Produce offspring, asexually (by itself) or sexually (joining of 2 sex cells).

     7.  Response to Environment - Adaptation and evolution to survive in an environment. 

Processes of Life-Forms (Organisms)

     1.  Movement - Going from one place to another by action or even by growth.  (Plant getting taller)

     2.  Respiration - A process where cells get energy from food.  Food can include the air you breathe.   

     3.  Sensitivity - The ability to sense what is in your environment.     

     4.  Growth - "  "

     5.  Reproduction - "  "

     6.  Excretion - Getting rid of waste from chemical reactions in the organism.

     7.  Nutrition - A process for obtaining food.

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