Characteristics of Life Vocabulary

Cell

Membrane covered structure that contains all the materials necessary for life; all living things must have at least one

stimulus

a change in an organism's environment that affects the activity of the organism

homeostasis

the maintenance of a stable internal environment

asexual reproduction

a single parent produced offspring identical to the parent

sexual reproduction

two parents produce offspring that will share characteristics of both parents

DNA

a molecule in all living things that contains the instructions for life

Metabolism

the total of all the chemical activities that an organism performs

Producer

Organisms that produce their own food (plants)

consumer

organisms that eat other organisms for food

decomposer

organisms that break down dead organisms or waste products

Necessities of Life

Food, Water, Air and Living space

herbivore

a living things that gets its food from eating plants

carnivore

a living things that gets its food from eating animals (includes scavengers)

omnivore

a living thing that gets its food from eating plants and animals