BIOLOGY AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

1
BIOLOGY AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS
2
Bell Ringer Part 1

• On the next open page in your journal write the
  title Characteristics of Life.
• Write the following statement and bullet point at
  least 8 things that you think could accurately
  fill in the blank.
• In order for something to be alive, it
  must_________________

3
Bell Ringer Part 2

• Now make a table using the following list to fill
  the left side column. Using your ideas for what
  is living, determine if the items on the list are
  living or non living
• tree, rock, boy, fire, wind, rabbit, cloud,
  feather, grass, seed, egg, bacteria, cell,
  molecule, sun, mushroom, potato,
• detached leaf, butterfly, pupae, fossil,
  hibernating bear, mitochondria, river

4
What is Biology ?

• Study of life
• Helps us understand the living world

How do we know if something is living?
5
ALL LIVING THINGS

• 1. Are made of cells
• 2. Can reproduce
• 3. Have a genetic code
• Grow and develop
• Obtain/use materials and energy
• Respond to environment
• Maintain homeostasis
• Change over time

6
Made of cells

• A cell is a collection of living matter enclosed
  by a membrane
• Smallest living unit of a living organism

7
2. Can Reproduce

• Sexual reproduction
• Formation of an organism
• from the union of gametes
• from two parent organisms.
• Asexual reproduction
• Formation of an
• organism genetically
• identical to the parent
• that does not involve
• the union of a sperm and an egg.

8
3. Have a genetic Code

• The genetic code with minor variations determines
  the inherited traits
• DNA
• RNA

9
4. Grow and Develop

• Grow and/or develop during part of their lives
• Increase in size
• Develop over time in different physical stages

10
5. Obtain/Use Materials and Energy

• Metabolism
• Build up and break down of materials as it
  carries out life processes
• i.e. photosynthesis, cellular respiration
• Store and use energy

11
6. Respond to Environment

• Stimulus
• Signal to which an organism responds
• External--Outside of the organism (i.e.
  temperature, light)
• Internal--Within the organism (i.e. blood sugar
  level)

12
7. Maintaining Homeostasis

• Homeostasis balance within an organism
• Example
• sweating in
• to cool down
• your body can regulate
• blood sugar.

13
8. Evolve

• Change over long periods of time
• Organisms evolve in order to adjust to the
• environment.