Characteristics of Life Mr. Dirienzo

WARM UP What does it mean to be living? List 5 different things you see in the room you think are living (BIOTIC)… List 5 different things in the room you think are non living (ABIOTIC)…

WARM UP What are the characteristics that classifies it as living?

Characteristic 1 Made of one or more cells http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus Cells are the basic unit of life They can be multi-cellular such as human cell or unicellular like a bacteria cell. Strep throat Bacteria – living organism Human – Living organism

Characteristic 2 Displays organization Arranged in an orderly way is organization The organism whether unicellular (one cell) or multi-cellular (many cells) are organized based on different structures within each of the cells that have specific roles and functions.

Characteristic 3 Grows and Develops kathyskritters.com Growth is an addition of mass to the organism, forming new cells and structures Throughout time the organism advances in these structures, thus becoming developed. Example - birds

Characteristic 4 Reproduces Organism reproduces and passes along traits form one generation to the next.

Characteristic 5 Responds to stimuli Organism have external environments (all the things that’s surround it – air, land, water, soil, etc.) Anything that is part of the organism’s environment and causes a reaction from the organism is a stimulus

Characteristic 6 Requires energy Energy fuels life! Energy comes from food, unicellular and plants use the sun to make their own food. Organisms that cannot make their own food must consume other organisms.

Characteristic 7 Maintains Homeostasis Homeostasis- regulation of internal conditions Ex- sweating Any disruptions in homeostasis, and not restored death may occur

Characteristic 8 Adaptions evolve over time An inherited characteristics that results in changes to a species over time, this is an adaptation

Levels of Biological Organization

Intro to Cells Cells - smallest unit of life Two Types 1. Prokaryotic 2. Eukaryotic

Prokaryotic Cells - no nucleus - nuclear membrane - organelles within the cytoplasm - single celled organisms

Eukaryotic Cells - true nucleus - organelles within the cytoplasm - usually larger - multicellular organisms

Venn Diagram Worksheet Complete diagram by showing the similarities and differences between Prokaryotic cells and Eukaryotic cells