BIOLOGY: Characteristics of Living Things

What is Biology? ology ----- study of Bio ----- life Biology: Study of life

1. Living Things are Made up of Cells. Multicellular CELL: Collection of living material enclosed within a barrier Cells are the basic unit of life a.) Unicellular: made up of one cell b.) Multicellular: made up of many cells Unicellular 2. Living Things Reproduce. Asexual Living things produce offspring which resemble parents a.) Asexual Reproduction: has only one parent (ex.Hydra…Freshwater animal) b.) Sexual Reproduction: requires two parents Sexual

3. Living Things are Based on a Genetic Code. Inheritance of traits is carried on DNA. 4. Living Things Grow and Develop. Living things have a life span a.) Growth: increase in size & shape b.) Development: mature over time

5. Living Things Use & Need Energy. Energy comes from food, used to maintain body Autotroph (Producer): produces own food Heterotroph (Consumer): must consume food Decomposer: breaks down dead material for food

Producers: Plants and other organisms that make their own food. Consumers: Animals that depend on energy that became stored in the tissues of producers. Decomposers: Break down sugars and other biological molecules to simpler materials.

6. Living things respond to their surroundings. An action causes a reaction. a.) stimulus - The factor(s) that cause a reaction from living and non living things. b.) response - The action that occurs because of the presence of a stimulus. 7. Living things maintain a stable internal environment. a.) HOMEOSTASIS: internal balance; steady state of being regardless of external surroundings. (i.e. Shiver when cold and sweat when hot.)

8. Living things Evolve. a.) They adapt to long-range changes in environment. b.) They change to better survive in environment. c.) These changes take place over a long period of time & involve the entire species.

Recap Quiz: 1. What are the characteristics of life? 2. What is homeostasis? What is an example of homeostasis? 3. Is a computer living? Why or why not? 4. Why is energy required by living things?

System of Classification Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Dutch Kings Play Chess On Funny Green Squares

Human classification scheme: Genus & species Homo sapiens Life is Diverse Human classification scheme: Domain Eukarya Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae Genus & species Homo sapiens

Life is Diverse

Three Domains of Life Archaea and Bacteria Eukarya Unicellular: entire bodies consist of just one cell Prokaryotic cells: cells without a nucleus Eukarya Multicellular: organisms are made of many cells Eukaryotic cells: cells that contain nuclei that separate DNA from the rest of the cell

Source: http://eesc.columbia.edu/courses/ees/life/lectures/lect04.html

What are the major organizational levels of life?

TASK: 1. Define the following terms 2 TASK: 1. Define the following terms 2. Organize them from the most general (broadest) to the most specific (smallest) Cells Biosphere DNA and Genes Ecosystem Organism

Organizational Levels of Life Biosphere Ecosystem Organism Cells DNA and Genes

Organizational Levels of Life Biosphere: All the parts of the planet that are inhabited by living things. Ecosystem: Community of living things in an area, along with the nonliving features of the environment that support the living community. Organism: Individual living things Cells: Life’s basic units of structure and function. All organisms are made up of one of more cells. DNA and Genes: DNA: Chemical responsible for inheritance - the passing of traits from parent organisms to their offspring. Gene: Units of inherited information.

What Makes Life Diverse? Diversity refers to the many differences that exist. The existence of millions of species is what makes life on earth so diverse. Species refers to a distinct form of life or each different type of organism.

With so much diversity, how can organization exist? Biodiversity refers to the many different types of organisms on earth. Classification refers to a system of organization. Taxonomy is the biological science that classifies life according to evolutionary relationships. The Domain is the largest group of organisms.

Unifying the Study of Life All living things exhibit TEN themes in combination.

What are the Ten Themes of Life? Biological Systems Cellular Basis of Life Form and Function Reproduction and Inheritance Interaction with the Environment Energy and Life Regulation Adaptation and Evolution Biology and Society Scientific Inquiry

1. Biological Systems A combination of parts can form a more complex organization called a system. cells make up tissues tissues make up organs organs make up systems systems make up organisms

2. Cellular basis of life All living things are composed of cells… Unicellular: organisms made of one cell Multicellular: organisms made of more than one cell, usually having cells that are specialized for different functions.

3. Form and Function How something works is related to its structure. In other words, form fits function and living organisms inherit these traits from parent organisms.

4. Reproduction and Inheritance "Like begets like” Offspring inherit units of information called genes from their parents. Genes are responsible for family resemblance. DNA

5. Interaction With the Environment No organism is completely isolated from its environment. A plant obtains water and nutrients from the soil, carbon dioxide gas from the air, and energy from sunlight to undergo photosynthesis - the process by which plants make food.

6. Energy and Life Energy flows into an ecosystem as sunlight, is converted to chemical energy, and eventually exits in the form of heat energy. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms are an ecosystem’s producers - they produce their own food upon which the entire ecosystem depends. Consumers - organisms that eat the food made by producers - obtain stored energy from producers.

6. Energy and Life (continued)

7. Regulation Homeostasis - the ability of an organism to maintain its internal environment despite conditions in the external environment. Example: Human body temperature ……… if body temperature rises, you sweat. if body temperature lowers, you shiver.

8. Adaptation and Evolution Adaptation - an inherited trait that helps an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its particular environment. Population - localized group of organisms belonging to the same species Natural Selection - the “selection” of specific inherited traits that allow offspring to inherit a variation that may allow them to live longer. Evolution - generation to generation change in the proportion of different inherited traits in a population.

8. Adaptation and Evolution (continued) Over time, adaptations are modified by natural selection.

8. Adaptation and Evolution (continued) Life is always changing….. On the level of DNA…… Change = Evolution

9. Biology and Society More than ever modern biology is changing humans everyday lives.

10. Scientific Inquiry Biology relies on certain processes of inquiry, which involves asking questions and using observation or experiments to find possible answers.