CHARACTERISTICS

OF LIVING THINGS
IT’S ALIVE! OR IS IT?
WHAT IS LIFE?
SECTION 2.1
 There are 7 characteristics that all living things must
have in order to be considered alive.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
1. Response to Stimuli
 All living things can respond/react to stimuli whether it
is internal or external.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
2. Adaptability
 In order to survive all living things must be able to adapt
to their environment and evolve over time.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
3. Reproduction
 All living things can reproduce.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
4. Energy Use
 All living things must be able to use energy to perform
the tasks necessary for survival.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
5. Homeostasis
 All living things can maintain a balanced internal
environment.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
6. Organization
 All living things have cellular organization.
 They are made up of one or more cells.
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
7. Growth and Development
 All living things grow (get bigger) and develop (become
more complex).
R.A.R.E. H.O.G
• R esponse to stimuli
• A dapatability
• R eproduction
• E nergy Use
• H omeostasis
• O rganized by cells
• G rowth and development
LIFE COMES FROM LIFE
Redi’s Experiment
LIFE COMES FROM LIFE
Pasteur’s Experiment
WHAT LIVING THINGS NEED TO
SURVIVE
1. Food: Organisms need food as a source of energy.
 Organisms that can make their own food are called
autotrophs.
 Organisms that need to eat other organisms as food are
called heterotrophs.
WHAT LIVING THINGS NEED TO
SURVIVE
2. Water: Living things can only survive a few days
without water.
WHAT LIVING THINGS NEED TO
SURVIVE
3. Space: All living things need a space where they can
find food, water and shelter.