Properties of Living things Frequently, presenters must deliver material of a technical nature to an audience unfamiliar with the topic or vocabulary. The material may be complex or heavy with detail. To present technical material effectively, use the following guidelines from Dale Carnegie Training®.   Consider the amount of time available and prepare to organize your material. Narrow your topic. Divide your presentation into clear segments. Follow a logical progression. Maintain your focus throughout. Close the presentation with a summary, repetition of the key steps, or a logical conclusion. Keep your audience in mind at all times. For example, be sure data is clear and information is relevant. Keep the level of detail and vocabulary appropriate for the audience. Use visuals to support key points or steps. Keep alert to the needs of your listeners, and you will have a more receptive audience.

Early Views of life Vitalism: The insistence that there is some big, mysterious extra ingredient in all living things Led to idea of spontaneous generation Flies came from dead animals Mice came from Hay In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience. Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners. Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations. Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and you will have more attentive listeners.

The Redi Experiment Idea was challenged by scientist Francesco Redi in 1698. Designed an experiment where 3 jars contained meat. If you have several points, steps, or key ideas use multiple slides. Determine if your audience is to understand a new idea, learn a process, or receive greater depth to a familiar concept. Back up each point with adequate explanation. As appropriate, supplement your presentation with technical support data in hard copy or on disc, e-mail, or the Internet. Develop each point adequately to communicate with your audience.

Setup 1 One Jar contained meat and had an open top which would allow the passage of flies. (maggots would appear on the meat) Determine the best close for your audience and your presentation. Close with a summary; offer options; recommend a strategy; suggest a plan; set a goal. Keep your focus throughout your presentation, and you will more likely achieve your purpose.

Setup 2 The second jar was covered with an airtight lid not allowing the passage of flies. (no maggots would appear on the meat)

Setup 3 The third was covered by a screen allowing passage of eggs, but not flies. (few maggots would appear on meat)

Conclusion Since the third setup would theoretically allow the passage of “ethers”, but no maggots appeared, it was implied that flies were the source of the maggots. Led to the theory of Biogenesis All life comes from preexisting life

PROPERTIES of LIFE Be made of Cells. The Cell is the basic unit of life Is self contained and possesses a barrier (membrane) which separates itself from the environment. Two types of organisms. Unicellular - One celled organism (Uni=1) Multicellular - Many cells (Multi=”many”)

PROPERTIES of LIFE Living Things must Reproduce. Must be able to create more of it’s own kind Two types of reproduction: Sexual - Two parent organisms combine genetic material to produce the offspring. Asexual - When a single organism can divide or “bud” to create it’s offspring without another of it’s species.

PROPERTIES of LIFE Living things must Have DNA. (Universal Genetic Code?)

PROPERTIES of LIFE Living things must Grow & Develop. Growth refers to two processes. Increase in the number of cells. Increase in the size of cells. Development refers to changes in the organism which occur through it’s life-span. Includes cell differentiation. Includes organ development Includes aging & death.

PROPERTIES of LIFE Living things obtain & use energy. Energy is used by all living things for growth, development & reproduction. Life processes which result in “building” the organism ia known as Anabolism. Life process where energy is extracted by “breaking-down” substances is called Catabolism.

PROPERTIES of LIFE Living things must Respond (or react) to their environment in some way. Something which causes an organism to react is known as a Stimulus (stimuli). The ability of an organism to react is called Irritability. Most responses are geared for maintaining Homeostasis. Homeostasis is a process where an organism maintains a stable internal environment so life can continue. Some examples include temperature, pH, and water content of the cell.