Characteristics of Life

Biology• = study of _________________________

• There is great ________________ among living things

• All living things ______________ certain characteristics

Cells• All living things are made of ___________

• Cell = smallest unit of ________________ and __________________ for living things

• Some organisms are– ___________________ = made up of one cell– ___________________ = made up of many

cells

Reproduction• All living things are able to produce

_________________________

• Through this process, living things pass on their __________________ traits

Genetic Code• All living things have a _______________

genetic code

• The genetic code is based on __________ and its four nitrogen bases – ____, ____, ____, and ____

Growth / Development• All living things grow / develop at some

point during their lifetime.

• Growth = increase in ____________; usually occurs through _______________ (cell division)

• Development = changes; for instance, _________________ of certain structures for certain jobs in an organism’s body

Metabolism• All living things must obtain and use

________________

• Metabolism = all of the _______________ in an organism– ______________________ = process plants

use to get energy from the sun– _______________________ = process used

to break down food energy into cell energy (ATP)

Respond to Environment• All living things are able to respond to

things happening ________ and ___________ them (stimuli)

– Plants grow toward sunlight– People shiver when they are cold

Homeostasis• All living things try to maintain a ________

_______________ __________________

– Resting heart rate = 72-76 beats per minute– Resting breathing rate = approx. 15 breaths

per minute– Normal body temperature = 98.6 oF (37 oC)

Evolution• = change in a ______________ over time

• All living things, as a group, change over time– __________________ evolve

• Population = members of the same species living in the same place at the same time

– __________________ do NOT evolve