Characteristics of Life—Cells, Organization, Reproduction, Homeostasis, Heredity,

Responsiveness, Growth & Development

By: Brady Ludvik

Volvox Green Algae (Volvox aureus)

3 Characteristics That Make it a

ProtistThey are the simplest form of eukaryotic organism.

They use every way to get energy.

They all don’t have enough characteristics to make them in any other group

Cellular Oranization

All living things are made of cells. The green algae is single-cellular organism. Each cell only thinks for itself, not towards a similar goal with other cells. Volvox has a special trait that lets it colonize with other cells but not interact with them. They are still unicellular, they just group together.

One cell

One colony

MetabolismThe Volvox is a photoautotroph which means that it photosynthesizes to create its own energy. It just needs the sunlight to make sugars to use for energy. They use chloroplasts absorb sunlight and convert it to energy.

ReproductionAll livings must be able to reproduce by themselves or with their own species. The Volvox Green Algae reproduces asexually which means they are neither male or female and they clone themselves, making a copy of themselves. They make a copy of their DNA and it splits, one with each copy of DNA and they are the same.

Growth & Development

In the process of cell division, the organelles have to dissolve to make room for the new chromosomes to divide. After they divide their organelles need to develop again and the cell grows until it divides again.

HeredityThe algae is unicellular which means that there is no mixture of DNA so the offspring is exactly alike the parent. They pass on everything without interference to the offspring. This includes information to create certain organelles and how to photosynthesize.

They all look alike

HomeostasisHomeostasis in when an organism tries to maintain a balance. An example for Volvox is that it has to regulate the amount of water inside of the cell and it needs to regulate the amount of sugars it produces too.

The cell is leavingthe colony because it cannot fit all of the cells in

ResponsivenessResponsiveness is reacts to its environment to survive. An example of this for Volvox is that it changes the amount of chloroplasts due to the intensity of the light it is in. Also, it will move towards the sunlight to get as much of it as possible.