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Characteristics and Needs of Living Things

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207105385HomeostasisThe internal balance an organism makes to adjust to the environmental changes
207105386MetabolismThe sum of all chemical reactions used by an organism to obtain and use the energy found in food
207105387ProducerOrganisms that convert solar energy to chemical energy. These can be plants and other organisms that use photosynthesis
207105388ConsumerOrganisms that get their energy by eating other organisms
207105389DecomposerOrganisms that get their energy by breaking down dead and decaying organisms
207105390Digestion1st part of metabolism; The breaking down of complex food molecules into smaller more useful pieces
207105391Respiration2nd part of metabolism; mixing of food with oxygen to release the energy in it.
207105392Synthesis3rd step of metabolism; putting molecules together for growth and repair
207105393ExcretionFinal part of metabolism; removal of waste products from an organism
207105394EnvironmentAll the surroundings of an organism; includes living and non-living parts
207105395BioticLiving parts of the environment - other organisms
207105396AbioticNon-living part of the environment - air, water, soil, climate
207105397StimulusA change in the environment that can cause an organism to change its behavior; anything that causes a reaction
207105398ResponseA change in behavior due to a change in the environment
207105399AdaptationAny inherited characteristic or trait an organism has that makes it better able to survive in its surroundings
207105400Asexual reproductionRequires only 1 cell (parent); produces offspring identical to parent; aka cloning
207105401Sexual reproductionRequires two cells (parents); produces unique individuals which possess traits from both parents
207105402HeredityPassing of traits from parent to offspring
207105403GrowthA change in size over the life span of an organism; in multicelled organisms requires more cells; often occurs at same time as development
207105404DevelopmentAll the changes an organism undergoes as it grows and matures; A change in form
207105405Life SpanThe natural length of time an organism will live. This varies from species to species. Some species live for 3,000 years, some for 24 hours
207105406OrganismAny living thing; made up of at least 1 cell and possessing all other characteristics of living things
207105407CellMembrane bound structure; the smallest unit of life in which life processes are carried out

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