Characteristics of Life

• Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living organisms.
• All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
• Organisms use light energy to see, to make food, and for warmth.
• Plants use sunlight to make food.
• Excretion is the elimination of the waste products of metabolism from a cell, tissue or organ
• In animals, waste is excreted through the skin, lungs and urinary system.
• In plants, waste is excreted through the stomata.
• A response is a reaction to a stimulus in the environment.
• Adaptation is when plants and animals change in response to long-term changes in the environment.
• Reproduction is the ability of an organism to produce new individuals of its own kind and pass on genetic information to the next generation.
• The characteristics of life are organization, nutrition, excretion, response, and reproduction.
• Multicellular organisms are composed of specialized cells that work together to perform specific functions.