Characteristics of Life

Unicellular

Made of a single cell

Multicellular

Made up of more than one cell.

cell

The basic unit of structure and function in living things

Biology

The study of life

Stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

response

An action or change in behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus.

Homeostasis

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism

Photosynthesis

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

Cell Respiration

the process in cells in which oxygen is used to release stored energy by breaking down sugar molecules

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

Heterotroph

organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer

Growth

increase in size or number of cells

development

the process of change that occurs during an organism's life to produce a more complex organism

sexual reproduction (DNA)

genetic combination of both parents

Asexual reproduction DNA

identical

Organelle

specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell

plasma membrane (cell membrane)

Regulates what enters and leaves the cell and separates the internal environment of the cell from the external environment

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.