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Welcome!Today we'll explore the characteristics of living things. These traits help us distinguish between living and non-living organisms. Let's dive in step by step!
What are living things?Living things are organisms that show certain key characteristics, which are essential for life. These features set them apart from non-living things like rocks or water.
Key Characteristics of Living OrganismsAll living things share specific features that help them survive and reproduce in their environment. These characteristics include:
The 8 Characteristics of LifeThere are 8 main features that all living organisms share:Nutrition: Taking in nutrients to provide energy and materials for growth and repair.Respiration: The process of releasing energy from food.Excretion: Removal of waste products made by chemical reactions in the body.Response: Reacting to changes in the environment (stimuli).Movement: Changing position to adapt to the environment.Homeostasis: Maintaining a constant internal environment, like body temperature.Reproduction: Producing offspring to ensure survival of the species.Growth and Development: Increasing in size and changing over time.
Which characteristic involves removing waste products from the body?
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Pathogens: Harmful OrganismsPathogens are organisms that cause diseases in other living things. They can be fungi, bacteria, protoctists, or viruses. However, viruses are not considered living organisms as they cannot reproduce without a host.
Why are viruses not considered living organisms?
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Examples from Everyday LifeThink of a dog running, a plant growing, or a human breathing—these all show the characteristics of life. Can you think of other examples?
Which of the following are characteristics of living organisms? (Select all that apply)
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Review Time!Great work! You've learned about the characteristics of living organisms and pathogens. Now let's test your understanding with a few questions.
Match the items on the left with their correct pairs on the right
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The {{blank0}} characteristic involves producing offspring to ensure the survival of the species.
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Which of the following are pathogens? (Select all that apply)
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Which of these is NOT an example of a living organism?
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Well Done!You've completed the lesson on the characteristics of living things. Keep exploring biology and asking great questions!
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