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In Lesson 9, you learned that all living things are made up of cells and that cells have structures that carry out life processes. All living organisms also have special structures that carry out life processes or life functions. In this activity, you will learn about these life functions.

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All animals and plants share many of the same life functions. Life functions include:

1. nutrition — obtaining or producing food

2. growth and repair — building and repairing body parts

3. metabolism — breathing, digesting, and eliminating wastes

4. reproduction — making new cells or a new organism

5. regulation —responding to changes

6. transportation — moving the organism or its parts

7. synthesis — directing the activities of cells to create needed substances

You learned that cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems work together to keep an organism alive. Each is built in a special way to help it perform its function. We can say that cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems are all specialized.

Each system in a plant or an animal works to keep the plant or animal alive by performing life functions. Here are examples for both plants and animals:

Plants have root systems that include a primary root, secondary (lateral) roots, and root hairs. This root system brings nutrients and water into the plant from the environment.

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Animals have digestive systems that contain all of the organs needed to take food and change it into a form the animal's body can use.

Digging Deeper

One of the life functions listed above was regulation — responding to changes. Animals respond in unique ways to changes in their environment.

For example, in the winter months, bears become inactive to respond to food shortages. Both their breathing and heartbeat slow down, and their body temperature is lower than normal. This is called hibernation.