6 characteristics of life

1. Mr. Binder, 7th Grade Life Science

2. 1. Made of one or more cells
The Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all life.
Unicellular (one cell)
- ex. Bacteria
Multicellular (many cells)
- ex. Animals, plants

3. 2. Sense and respond to change (stimuli in their environment)
Stimuli - factors in the environment that living things react to
(ex. Light, temperature, sound, etc.)
Organisms react in order to maintain Homeostasis

4. 3. Reproduce
Sexual - two sex cells required (sperm and egg)
Asexual - only one parent cell is needed

5. 4. Have a universal genetic code – RNA or DNA (Chemicals of Life)
All living things have Chemicals of Life
Long molecules that contain genetic information
Passed on from one generation to the next

6. 5. Use energy to survive – 2 ways
Autotrophs/Producers - get energy from sun
Heterotrophs/Consumers - get energy by consuming other organisms

7. 6. Grow and Develop
Cell division for growth
Development through cell specialization