CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS1. COMPOSED OF CELLS2. OBTAIN AND USE FOOD FOR ENERGY3. REPRODUCE4. RESPOND TO STIMULI5. ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENT6. REQUIRE WATER TO SURVIVE7. MAINTAIN HOMEOSTASIS8. HAVE A METABOLISM9. PRODUCE WASTE

Honors Biology

Living things Obtain and Use Food for Energy

LIVING THINGS ARE BASED ON A UNIVERSAL GENETIC CODE

There is a specific molecule used within the cells of ALL living things to store the complex information they need to Live Grow Reproduce

What is this molecule called?? DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

DNA is the genetic material of the cell which contains codes for the building of proteins.

LIVING THINGS ARE TAKEN AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS EVOLVE

Pass on traits (characteristics) from one generation to the next by their DNA

Cannot generally choose or change their characteristics

An organisms traits are largely predetermined by their DNA Though it may be influenced by their

environment

LIVING THINGS ARE TAKEN AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS EVOLVE

Examples of Types of Traits: Physical

Physiological

Behavioral

LIVING THINGS ARE TAKEN AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS EVOLVE

WHAT KIND OF TRAITS ARE SHOWN?

HOW DO THESE NEW TRAITS ARISE?? How are traits controlled ??

Individual’s genes

In sexually reproducing species, variations arise from unique combinations of the mother and father’s genetic material Variations are differences in organisms

In sexually and asexually reproducing species, variations can also arise from random/chance mutations Change the genetic material of a cell Mutations can be helpful, harmful, or have no

impact!

WHAT’S A MUTATION ANYWAY??

Mutation Change in the genetic material of a cell

AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME

Variations may enhance an organism’s ability to survive & reproduce These traits are referred to as adaptations

What’s an adaptation? Heritable characteristic that increases an

organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in an environment

AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME

Environment largely dictates what is an adaptation and what is not. A trait may benefit survival in one environment

and hinder survival in another Ex – think of a snowshoe hare trying to hide in a

NJ Forest!

AS A GROUP, LIVING THINGS ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME

How do populations change/evolve over time???

Natural Selection The process by which organisms that are best

suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully (=survival of the fittest)

Individuals are selected, a species adapts and evolves

EXAMPLE OF EVOLUTION

Two shades of peppered moths (light/dark) lived simultaneously in England before the industrial age.

The trees were light at the time since they were covered in “lichens” (a fungus/algae)

Which moths were harder to spot “before” the Industrial revolution???

Birds spotted the darker moths and the population of darker moths decreased

In other words, the “lighter” ones were “selected for”

During the IR, there was so much pollution that the darker lighter colored lichen on the trees were killed, thus making the trees appear darker… Which moths were harder to spot “after” the IR?

Birds spotted the lighter moths now and the population of lighter moths decreased.

In other words, the “darker” ones were “selected for”

This shows how the environment drives natural selection (influences the selection of traits)

Each time an organism reproduces, there is a chance that the DNA of the offspring will lead to new and different traits which may enhance their survival.

If the trait benefits the organism, the organism is more ‘fit’ for survival and reproduction of another generation of offspring (their genes are getting passed on)

The new trait may be passed on to the next generation of offspring

Eventually, if successful then this trait will be present in a greater % of the population

The group of organisms can be said to have adapted to their environment

As one adaptation follows another, eventually the species may undergo subtle or even drastic changes. Over time groups of organisms can become different enough from one another that they are considered a new species.

EVOLUTION

Change over time The process by which modern organisms have

descended from ancient organisms

Evidence points to a common ancestor of all life forms which dates back over 3.5 billion years.

WE CAN’T LIVE FOREVER!

Over time there is damage to DNA and cells Wear out, despite constant maintenance and

repair throughout the organism’s life time

Cannot always maintain homeostasis in all environmental conditions Cannot continue its metabolism and maintain

homeostasis, its life will cease.

Earth has a limited supply of resources Death – materials in cells are recycled back into

the environment for use by new generations of living things

ORGANISM APPROX LIFESPAN

(years)

ORGANISM APPROX LIFESPAN

(years

Bristlecone Pine 3,000-4,700 years Toad 36

Redwood 1,000-3,500 Deer 35

Douglas Fir 750 Cobra 28

Galapagos Tortoise 193 Tiger, Cat 25

Giant Tortoise 152 Bat 24

Box Turtle 123 Cow 22

Turkey Buzzard 118 Queen Ant, Chicken, Sheep 15

Swan 102 Tiger Salamander 11

Parrot 80 Green Frog 10

Eleplant 69 Hummingbird 8

Horned Owl 68 Queen Bee, Gerbil 5

Catfish 60 House Mouse, Hamster, Rat 4

Eagle 55 Most I nsects < 1year

Horse 50 Adult Honeybee Workers 6 weeks

Decomposers are essential to the recycling of materials between the living and non-living portions of every ecosystem

All this dead ‘stuff’ has run out of energy. It can’t grow any more. But it is still vital to life, because it contains

atoms that are the basic building blocks of all living things.

These atoms get recycled into the food web with the help of organisms called decomposers. 

VIRUSES There is some debate over whether viruses are

living or nonliving. Most agree that they are nonliving. Why?

They are unable to INDEPENDENTLY carry out all life processes. They are known as “obligate intracellular parasites”.

They are particles made of nucleic acid and protein that can replicate only by infecting living cells.

Do not belong to any kingdom and don't contain any cells. Therefore, they are considered nonliving.