Characteristics of Living Things Flashcards
Organism
An individual life form
Unicellular
made of one single cell
Multicellular
made of multiple cells
Prokaryote
Single-celled bacteria with DNA in a ring-shape
Eukaryote
All life forms other than bacteria; Protists, Fungi, Plants & Animals with (usually) multiple, large, complex cells.
Organic
molecules that make-up or are made-by living things; the building material of living things; the four types include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fat), nucleic acids (DNA)
Inorganic
molecules or chemicals that exist in the environment and support life, but are not organic. these molecules are chemicals including gases, minerals, and water
Autotroph
make their own food, either using sunlight or chemicals from the environment
Heterotroph
consumes other organisms as a food source; there are multiple types including herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers
Growth
change in size over a life-time
Development
change in shape or form over a life-time, usually in stages through a life cycle
Response
the reaction caused by a change in surroundings
Stimuli
a change in the environment that causes a behavioral reaction
Homeostasis
the maintenance of steady internal conditions even when external conditions change; balance that creates health; the opposite is disease or death
Asexual
a method of reproduction that involves one parent making identical offspring; all young are genetically the same
Sexual
a method of reproduction that combines the traits of parents to create unique offspring; young are unique compared to the parents or each other
Metabolism
includes the conversion of nutrients into energy and production of waste; all chemical reactions going on
Adaptations
unique traits that help an organism survive in its environment
Lifespan
the time period between birth and death during which an organism is alive
Alive
A dead animal or plant is considered a living thing even though it is not alive. To be alive, organisms must perform life functions - use energy, maintain health, move, grow, etc. Non-living things are not and never were alive.
