Characteristics of living things

By:
Dr.Alkhair Abd Almahmoud Idris
B.Sc,M.Sc , Ph.D University of Khartoum
 Living things are highly organized, from the
smallest part to the largest
• Living things are highly ordered, they are
comprised of one or more units called cells.
• Cell- a collection of living matter enclosed by
a barrier that protects it from its
surroundings.
• Organisms divided to unicellular organism
which has a one-celled organism (e.g. bacteria)
and multicellular organism which made of
more than one cell.
 Human cells and tissues

• In the case of a human, cells are organized into

tissues.
• Tissues are organized into organs like the
heart.
 Organs and organ system

• Organs are organized into organ system, like

the cardiovascular system.
• Organ systems functioning together make up a
living organism.
 Population and community

• A population is an organization of more than

one individual.
• This is generally all of one species in a
particular area.
• Enlarging our view next comes a community.
 Community

• An example of a community is the town or

place we live.
• A more accurate biological description would
include all the living things in that area.
• A community is composed of many species,
including plants and animals.
 Ecosystem

• An ecosystem not only considers the living

things in an area, but also the physical
environment and the interrelated energy.
• Types of these system such as a desert
ecosystem, a forest ecosystem, or another kind
of ecosystem.
 Biosphere and biodiversity

• Most complex of all is the biosphere.

• It is known also as biodiversity.
All living things have an ability to acquire
materials and energy
• Living things obtain and use energy which
required for growth and maintenance it
obtained from the environment.
• Most of us called this eating, then we have to
be able to convert our food, a form of
energy, to chemicals our cells can use
through metabolism.
 Autotrophic organisms

• Some organisms like plants, algea, and some

micoorganisms are autotrophs.
• The autotrophs we are most familiar with
are the green plants that use photosynthesis
to make their own food.
 Heterotrophic organisms

• Some bacteria use chemosynthesis for their

energy source.
• Animals and fungi are heterotrophs and
capture their food in a variety of ways.
 Homeostasis

• In order to survive; organisms must be able

to achieve homeostasis.
• Each type of organism has a specialized way
to stay in balance with its outside and inside
environments.
 Anabolism and catabolism
• Anabolism : a process (such as tissue growth)
that involves synthesizing or putting
together, complex substances from simpler
substances (sugars) (Requires energy)
• Catabolism: final breakdown (digestion) of
complex substances into simpler ones,
(Releases energy).
 Metabolism
• Metabolism: total sum of all chemical
reactions in the body, or the balance between
anabolism and catabolism
All living things have an ability to respond to
their environment
• All living things grow and develop, life does not
necessarily mean continuous growth, during
growth organisms undergo a cycle of changes
called development.
• Plants also have some limited ability to move.
 Plants and environment

• Plants grow up toward the sun, and some have

leaves able to turn to follow the sun, allowing
them to photosynthesize better.
• Their roots grow down to search for water and
minerals. If a plant doesn't get enough sunlight,
water or minerals it will die.
 Definitions

• Plural stimuli: anything that causes an

organism to react.
• Irritability:the ability to react.
• Homeostasis:(homeo- similar, -stasis standing):
an organism’s ability to maintain the constant
or stable conditions necessary for life.
All living things have an ability to reproduce

• All living things, even the smallest bacteria,

have a chromosome containing DNA.
• The diversity of organisms on earth has
resulted because most organisms reproduce
sexually.
Hermaphrodites and separate sex organisms

• Some, like earthworms are hermaphrodies.

• Most others have separate sexes, male and
female, like fish, birds, cattle and humans.
 Natural selection

• Modifications enable an organism to survive in

its environment.
• Natural selection allows individuals with better
adaptations to survive better and reproduce
more.
 All living things have an ability to adapt

• The individual characteristics are passed into

future generations and that makes the species
stronger.
• Individuals can only adapt to their
environment, and species don’t adapt, they
evolve.