What does it mean to be alive? It's more than just breathing! Living things share several key characteristics. They are organized, meaning they have structures like cells, tissues, and organs. They reproduce, passing on their genetic information. They grow and develop, changing over time. They respond to their environment, sensing and reacting to stimuli. They maintain homeostasis, keeping their internal conditions stable. They use energy, obtained through consuming other organisms or through photosynthesis. And finally, they evolve, changing over generations to adapt to their surroundings.
Match the term with its definition:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Homeostasis | A. The process of change over time. |
| 2. Reproduction | B. Maintaining a stable internal environment. |
| 3. Evolution | C. The process of producing offspring. |
| 4. Metabolism | D. The sum of all chemical processes in an organism. |
| 5. Stimulus | E. A signal that causes a response. |
Answer Key: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D, 5-E
Living things are highly __________. They maintain __________ by regulating internal conditions. They also _______ and develop throughout their life cycle. All living organisms need _________ to grow, repair, and reproduce. Over time, populations of living things _________ in response to changes in their environment.
Word Bank: energy, evolve, organized, grow, homeostasis
Answer: Living things are highly organized. They maintain homeostasis by regulating internal conditions. They also grow and develop throughout their life cycle. All living organisms need energy to grow, repair, and reproduce. Over time, populations of living things evolve in response to changes in their environment.
A scientist discovers a new organism in a remote cave. What experiments could they perform to determine if it's alive?
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