CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE

ORGANIZATION OF LIFE

• Cell is the basic units of life

• Tissue is defined as a group of cells that possess a similar structure and perform
a specific function.
• Population is defined as a group of individuals of the same species living and
interbreeding within a given area.
ADAPTATION
For living things to survive and perform normal functions, they can adjust to changes in
the environment. Examples of adaptations are the following:
1. Behavioral adaptation
• Emperor penguins in Antarctica crowd together to share their warmth in the
middle of winter.
2. Physiological adaptation
• Our body will produce more red blood cells in response to lower oxygen level.
3. Structural adaptation
• Hummingbirds have pointed beaks to probe tube flower for sweet nectar

HOMEOSTASIS
Homeostasis (HOH-mee-OH-STAY-sis) is the maintenance of a stable level of internal
conditions even though environmental conditions are constantly changing. Organisms
have regulatory systems that maintain internal conditions, such as temperature and sugar
level in the body. Examples are the following:
1. Humans maintain a stable body temperature even when the outside temperature
changes.
2. Sugar level in the blood should always be maintained.

RESPONSIVENESS
Another characteristic of life is that an organism can respond to a stimulus—a physical
or chemical change in the internal or external environment. Organisms must be able to
respond and react to changes in their environment to stay alive. Response to stimulus
can be instantaneous or it can be gradual and seasonal. Examples of stimuli and their
responses:
 1. For example, an owl dilates its pupils to keep the level of light entering the eye
constant. You are hungry so you eat some food.
2. A rabbit gets scared, so it runs away.
3. Imagine accidentally touching something hot. Your body's natural reaction is to
move your hand away from the source of the heat. This response is known as
a reflex or reflex arc. A reflex arc is an involuntary movement in response to a
stimulus.
4. Mimosa pudica (Makahiya) plant closes its leaves after being touched. This is an
example of instantaneous response

MOVEMENT
Organisms use their power to move themselves or their body parts through space.
Examples of movement are the following:
1. A frog’s tongue flips out to snag a fly.
2. Tiny hairs of paramecium can propel it towards concentration of food
particles.
3. A running dog.