L I F E

BUT WHY?? What does it mean to be “alive”? What do all living things have in common? Most of us would agree that we have more in common with a flower than with a rock. BUT WHY?? It has to do with how we are built, needs and behavior.

Most organisms have the same basic needs: ________ & __________ Key Terms and Understandings organisms Living things are referred to as _______________. cells All living things have one or more ____________ and are able to respond to their ________________. They also have the ability to _______________. Living things use __________ and __________ throughout their lives. environment reproduce energy grow Most organisms have the same basic needs: ________ & __________ food water

Why do we as humans feel the need to organize everything into groups? The similarities and differences that organisms exhibit help us organize them into groups. Why do we as humans feel the need to organize everything into groups? To make the planet more survivable To know what has and has not been discovered To find relationships between things To better understand our place in the universe

5 Kingdoms Life on our planet is grouped into Monera – (bacteria) 2. Protista – (protozoans- single celled, invisible to human eyes) 3. Fungi – (fungus, mushrooms, yeasts, molds) 4. Plantae – (moss, ferns, wood and non-wood plants) 5. Animalia – (?????) Simplest ----------- ------------ ------------- More complex

Each Kingdom is then divided into smaller and smaller groups based on the characteristics of its members. Classification: Determined and grouped by: 1.Kingdom 2.Phylum 3.Class 4.Sub-class 5.Species Cell organization, nutrition Body plan, structure organization Skeletal system, adaptation to environment Reproduction, birth method Ability to successfully produce offspring within members of the group Most general Most specific Therefore, if two organisms are in the same kingdom, they have something in common, but not as much in common as two organisms that are in the same sub-class or species.

Example: Animal Animal Invertebrate Invertebrate Arthropod Arthropod Arachnid Spider Black Widow Animal Invertebrate Arthropod Crustacean Crab Fiddler Crab After all, they do have these 3 taxonomic groups in common You could probably see already that these two organisms have a lot in common with one another. For example they both have multiple legs, hard outer shells, and lay eggs. These two organisms branch apart in different directions here however.

-Have many cells forming “tissue” -Rely on other organisms for food We will breifly review each Kingdom in upcoming lessons. We will also take a closer look at the processes associated with animal, plants, and microbes. There are over 1 million species of animals on our planet, but almost all have the same things in common with one another. Can I Join the Club? Characteristics of “Animals” -Have many cells forming “tissue” -Rely on other organisms for food -Capable of locomotion ***Anything fitting these criteria would most likely be placed in the Animal Kingdom.

Are you considered an “animal”? OF COURSE!! Humans eat other organisms for food, can move around from place to place on their own, and are made up of millions of cells. Remember, all living things fit into one of the 5 kingdoms, so what else could we be – Plants, Fungus? I don’t think so! You mean we don’t have our very own kingdom to ourselves??? …idiot

Do you have more in common with a Sea Horse or an Octopus? Facts to consider: -An octopus is typically a lot larger than a seahorse. -A seahorse is far less intelligent than an octopus Which is a closer relative? Although all 3 are animals, we can make accurate connections based on more specific characteristics. The simplest thing scientists do is to start by separating animals into 2 main groups. They look at body structure to do this.

Specifically, they look at whether or not an animal has a backbone – a series of bones (called vertebrae) that run down the center of a back. Animals with backbones are termed vertebrates and those without backbones are termed Invertebrates. -Vertebrates are usually smarter, larger and faster (in general). -95 % of the species on our planet are Invertebrates. So if you have a backbone, you would be closer in relation to those animals who also have a backbone.

Sometimes we classify organisms by feeding: Something that eats other organisms is called a heterotroph. An organism that can produce its own food, on the other hand, is called an autotroph. All animals are heterotrophs. Almost all plants are autotrophs. On the Menu…. Herbivores: Eat plants Carnivores: Eat animals Omnivores Eat both

Organisms make other organisms similar to themselves in 2 ways: Organisms are also sometimes classified by how they achieve reproduction. Organisms make other organisms similar to themselves in 2 ways: Sexual Reproduction – Two parents are needed to produce offspring which will have characteristics of both. Most animals reproduce this way. Asexual reproduction – A single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. Usually common in much less complex organisms.

Sneak Preview of the next lesson: Adaptations – Characteristics that help organisms survive in their environment.