Unit 1: The Study of Life The Characteristics of Life

Aidhm: You will be able to: To describe the diversity of living organisms. The features and characteristics that make them ‘living’. To define the term ‘life’, ‘metabolism’ and ‘continuity of life’. To define and identify the ‘characteristic of life’; organisation, nutrition, excretion, response and reproduction. 2

The Diversity of Life Millions of different types of Organism live on Earth. They can be microscopic eg: Bacteria or Amoeba. Larger Organisms eg: fungi such as moulds, plants such as trees, flowers and ferns and animals such as insects, fish, birds and humans. 3

4 The Diversity of Animals VertebratesInvertebrates Reptiles Insects Arachnids Fish Birds Worms

5 The Diversity of Plants AlgaeFerns Moss Conifers Flowering Plants

Characteristic of Life Common features found in living things Organisation - cells, tissues, organs, organisms nutrition excretion response reproduction

Living things must display all 5 characteristics (organisation, nutrition, excretion, response,reproduction) Non living display some characteristics or none 7

8 1. Organisation Living things are arranges into cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, individuals and populations. This supports their metabolism and allows for reproduction

2. Nutrition Nutrition is the way an organism obtains and uses its food Energy flow: Sun  Plants  Animals

Types of Nutrition Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Autotrophic (can make their own food) 1.Photosynthetic 2.Chemosynthetic Heterotrophic (cannot make their own food) 1.Herbivore 2.Carnivore 3.Omnivore 4.Decomposer/ Detritivore

3. Excretion Excretion is the removal of the waste products of metabolism from the body. Excretory organs in –animals: the urinary system, skin, lungs, skin –Plants: the stomata

4. Response The way in which an organism reacts to changes in their environment Can you list 3 things plants and animals respond to

5. Reproduction Reproduction: ability to produce new individuals of the same species

Reproduction Asexually e.g. bacteria How many parents? What happens to produce offspring? Are the offspring identical to the parent? Can also take cuttings from a plant

Sexual Reproduction: most animals and plants. What happens to produce offspring? Are the offspring identical to the parent? Allows for variation in the offspring Sperm + egg = zygote Reproduction

Recall Describe the diversity of living organisms? List the 5 “Characteristics of Living Things”. What are the 2 different types of Nutrition and what is the difference between the two. List 3 things animals and 3 things plants respond to. What are the 2 different types of reproduction. What is the difference between the two. 16

17 Continuity of Life The ability of an organism to exist from one generation to the next. Also know as biogenesis.

18 Metabolism METABOLISM: the sum of all the chemical reactions in the body ENZYMES: biological catalysts – they speed up the chemical reactions, without being used up in the reaction itself. All living things metabolise Can you remember an example of an Enzyme? Amylase in the mouth breaks down Starch to produce Maltose

19 There are 2 types of Metabolic Reactions 1. Anabolic Reactions These reactions join small molecules together to form larger molecules. Energy is needed Example: Photosynthesis

2. Catabolic Reactions These reactions break down large molecules into smaller ones. Energy is released. Example: Respiration 20

Characteristics of Life 2009 OL 14.(b)(iv)Explain the term excretion. (vi)Give two other excretory organs in the human body HL (f) Removal from the body of the waste products of metabolism is called…..……………………… 2004 OL 13.(a)What is metabolism? 21

Characteristics of Life 2009 OL 14.(b)(iv)Explain the term excretion. (vi)Give two other excretory organs in the human body HL (f) Removal from the body of the waste products of metabolism is called…..……………………… 2004 OL 13.(a)What is metabolism? 22 Excretion

23 Learning check 1.What is meant by Diversity? 2.Explain Metabolism 3.Explain ‘Continuity of Life’ 4.Define the term ‘Life’ 5.What is meant by nutrition? 6.What is reproduction? 7.What is metabolism? 8.What are the two different types of metabolic reactions?

Question time 24