Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Does a Fire give off energy?

Does a Fire fly (lightning bug) give off energy?

Are they both Alive?

What makes something alive?

What is Biology?

The study of living things The study of interactions between living

things “Bio” means “life/living” “-ology” means “study of…”

Characteristic’s continued…

Living things share several characteristics.

These characteristics include the following:

(There are 8 Characteristics!)

1. Living things obtain and use materials and energy (FOOD)

As organisms grow, they need energy and materials to survive.

What is an example of materials?

Metabolism —The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes.

How is energy obtained?

Energy comes from Glucose Autotroph:

– Produce their own “food” Heterotroph:

– Must consume Decomposer:

– Breaks down organic material for food

2. Living Things REPRODUCE

All organisms produce new organisms. (offspring which resemble parents)

Asexually —single parent. Dividing in half to produce another organism.

Sexually —two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism.

3. Living things change over time (EVOLVE) and adapt

Key words—as a group, living things

evolve, or change over time.

Example: Plants that can survive periods without water. These plants had to “change over time” to survive without water at certain dry periods.

Adapt to long range changes in environment

These changes allowed organisms to better survive in environment

4. Living things DEVELOP and grow.

Life Cycles

Life cycle of a butterfly—egg—caterpillar—pupa (chrysalis)—adult butterfly

Life cycle of a fly—egg—maggot—adult fly All living organisms grow at least part of their

lives. Growth = ↑ in size Develop = mature

5. Living things are made up of CELLS

A cell is a collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier (membrane) that separates the cell from its surroundings.

Cells are the basic structure of living things

A single cell organism is called “unicellular” (ie = bacteria)

Multicellular= comprised of many cells

6. Living things maintain a stable internal environment (HOMEOSTASIS)

Changes that happen in organisms are complex.

Example: a plant may take on water through roots at one point but give water off at another through leaves (transpire).

The internal consistency is called

Homeostasis. (process in which organisms keep their internal conditions stable)

Examples of Homeostasis:1. Plants transpire: give off water

2. Humans perspire/sweat to cool off

3. The hormone insulin is used by the body to keep blood sugar level

4. Dogs pant to cool off

7. Living things respond to their ENVIRONMENT

Organisms live in constantly changing environments.

Examples:

Temperature, Light, Smells, Sounds

They react to a stimulus An action causes a reaction This reaction is called a response This involves one individual

8. Living Things are based on a Universal GENETIC CODE

Offspring always resemble their parents. With sexual reproduction, offspring differ

in some ways. However, dogs must produce dogs, cats

must produce cats and flies produce flies. The genetic code of each is what is produced.

“Inheritance” carried on DNA

FRED CHEG! F ood R eproduce E volve D evelop

C ells H omeostasis E nvironment G enetic code

Fire is NOT alive

Bacteria IS alive

Rocks are NOT alive

Fungus IS alive

Viruses are NOT alive

Viruses Viruses are NOT considered alive

because they can not reproduce on their own.

They must use cells from other organisms to reproduce

Branches of Biology

The order in which Biology is branched, starting from smallest to most broad would be:

Molecules (Smallest)

Cells

Groups of cells

Organism (species)

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere (Most Broad/Largest)

Various Biological Sciences

Paleontology Zoology Botany Anatomy Cytology Microbiology

Levels of Organization

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Group of organisms of one type that

live in the same area

Populations that live

together in a defined area

Community and its

nonliving surroundings

The part of Earth that

contains all ecosystems

Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air

Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass

Bison herd

Biosphere(Largest)

Levels of Organization

Organism

Groups of

Cells

Cells

Molecules

Individual living

thing

Tissues, organs, and organ systems

Smallest functional

unit of life

Groups of atoms;

smallest unit of

most chemical

compounds Water DNA

Nerve cell

Nervous tissue Brain Nervous system

Bison

(Smallest)

The End