Properties Of Life

Growth & Development

DNA directs the patter

Increases in cell size/quantity

Cell differentiation, specialization, and change in function/process

Metabolism: Use of Energy

Organisms take in energy-transform it to do work

=number of reactions that take place in an organisms

All chemical reactions require energy (breaking down food, muscle, bone)

Reproduction

Reproduction to ensure survival of species

Sexual/asexual reproduction

Homeostasis

“Steady State”

Maintaining a balanced life to obtain optimum health/growth

Ex. Temperature regulation (sweating when it’s hot, shivering when cold)

Response to environment

Ability to change in response to environmental stimuli

Ex.

Cheetah needs food- response= chases gazelle.. gazelle is chased by cheetah- response= runs away

Evolutionary Adaptation

Life evolves as result to organisms interacting w/their environment

Lactose tolerance (10k years ago, animal domestication)

Malaria resistance (Sickle cell anemia)

pigmentation (more melanin for high sun environments)

Order

Level of complexity & organization

All other characterestics of life emerge from an organisms higly ordered structure

Hierchy of living things

Ex. sunflower, honeycomb structure in the bones of bird’s