Characteristics of

Life

Essential Questions:
What are the major characteristics of life?
How do we determine if something is living or non-living?
How can we organize this data to help us in our study of
biology?
 1. Composed of Cells
• All living things are composed of one
(unicellular) or more (multicellular) cells.
• This leads to levels of organization in
more complex living things…
– Cells are organized into tissues.
– Tissues are organized into organs.
– Organs are organized into organ systems.
– Organ systems comprise an Organism!
• Organism – Displays all characteristics of
life and considered by biologists to be
alive.
2. Require Energy
• Living organisms require energy; in
the most basic form of ATP.
– Obtained through the breakdown of
food and nutrients. (Heterotrophs)
– Obtained through inorganic sources
(Photosynthesis, Chemosynthesis)
– Obtained through “stealing” ATP from
other organisms. (Microorganisms)
• This energy is used to carry out
cell/life functions: metabolism,
locomotion, growth/development or
cell division, etc.
 3. Reproduce
• All living things reproduce to carry on their
species.
• Some plants and bacteria reproduce individually
via asexual reproduction.
– Upon maturity split into two organisms (budding).
– Offspring are genetically identical to parent.
• Some plants and animals reproduce through
another member of their species via sexual
reproduction.
– Upon maturity exchange eggs and sperm (externally
or internally) to create 1 or more offspring.
– Offspring are not genetically identical to parent/s: a
unique blend of recombined DNA.
– May or may not have parental care depending on
reproductive strategy.
4. Display Heredity
• Living organisms inherit traits
from their parent(s) via DNA
and/or RNA.
• DNA/RNA are the codes or
sequences that get translated
into all types of proteins.
• These are found
in the nucleus of
eukaryotic
organisms.
 5. Respond to Stimuli
• living things respond to changes in light, heat,
sound, and chemical and mechanical contact.
• To detect stimuli, many organisms have means
for receiving information, such as skin, eyes,
ears, and taste buds (the sensory organs)
• Once a stimulus has been received by the
organism, that triggers a response.
– Lower organisms (lacking complex sensory organs)
undergo types of taxis.
• Phototaxis, Hydrotaxis, Chemotaxis, Geotaxis,
Thigmotaxis, Magnetotaxis, etc.
– Higher organisms (with complex sensory organs)
undergo behaviors often using chemical
messengers (called hormones.)
• Conditioning, Imprinting, Insight learning, etc.
6. Adapt to their Environment
• Organisms and Species adapt to
their environment in order to
survive.
• Adaptation occurs to best suit
the habitat, and may or may
not be reversible.
– Add fat/fur in the wintertime.
– Changing coat colors to elude
predators.
– Learned behaviors to avoid harm.
 7. Maintain Homeostasis
• All organisms maintain a stable internal balance, also known as homeostasis.
• This ensures that body systems work at their best levels.
– Temperature, pH, Water/Osmotic Pressure, Salt balance
• This is accomplished by various types of feedback loops.
– Positive Feedback loop: accelerates or enhances the output created by a stimulus that has
already been activated.
• Blood clotting, Oxytocin release during birth
– Negative Feedback loop: reducing the output or activity of any organ or system back to its
normal range of functioning
• Shivering/Sweating, Blood Pressure
8. Evolve (over time)
• All organisms as a population (not
individually) evolve to the changing
environment over time.
• Occurs via changes in DNA sequences
(mutations) that code for proteins
(known as traits)
– Those with beneficial mutations will survive
and reproduce in the changing environment
and pass them on to future offspring.
– Those without beneficial mutations will not
survive and not reproduce in the changing
environment.
Example: Antibiotic resistant bacteria!
What am I?
What am I?
What am I?
What am I?
What am I?
What am I?
Your Turn! Mind Mapping
• To conclude today,
you will create a
bubble map on the
back of your notes.
• Flip over and look at
the diagram.
Describe the 8
major characteristics
of life.