Characteristics of Life Period 1

Organization & Cells Organization- Is the high degree of order within an organism internal and external parts and in its interactions with the living Cell- Smallest unit that can perform all life's processes unicellular-is when an organism is only made up of one cell, bacteria are unicellular multicellular- Other organisms, such as humans or trees, that are made up of multiple cells

Organization & Cells Organs- Structures that carry specialized jobs within a body and organ system Tissues- Groups of cells that have similar abilities and that allow the organ to function organelles- tiny structures that carry out functions necessary for the cell to stay alive. biological molecules-chemical compound that provides physical structures and that brings about movement, energy use, and other cellular functions

Response to Stimuli Stimulus- physical or chemical change in the internal or external environment. ex: An owl dilates its pupils to keep the light constant. Organisms must be able to respond and react to changes in their environment to stay alive.

Homeostasis Homeostasis: Maintenance of a stable level of internal conditions even though environmental conditions are constantly changing All living things have mechanisms to allow them to maintain stable internal conditions Without them they can die ex: A cell’s water content is controlled by taking and releasing water. Too much or too little will cause it to die

Homeostasis Usually organisms have more than one way of maintaining important aspects of their internal environment.

Metabolism -Metabolism- the sum of all the chemical reactions that take in and transform energy and materials from the environment ex: photosynthesis, plants, algae, bacteria -Energy used to process life depends on metabolism -Some organisms depend on other organisms for food

Growth & Develop Cell division is the formation of two new cells from one cell. All living things grow and increase in size. Development is progress in which an organism becomes a mature adult. In result of development, the adult organism is composed of many cells specialized for different functions. Organisms mature through cell division, cell enlargement, and development.

Reproduction Reproduction- a process in which organisms produce new organisms like themselves Not necessary for life, but because a single organism does not live forever, reproduction is essential to survival of an individual organism Ex: Glass frogs lay many eggs over their lifetime, Few survive During reproduction an organism's hereditary info. is transferred through deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)

Reproduction Gene- Short segment of DNA that contains instructions for one trait of an organism Each cell in your body needs DNA to build structures and to make the chemicals necessary for life Sexual reproduction- combines DNA from 2 organisms to create a singular, not identical offspring Asexual reproduction- does not combined DNA and results in an identical offspring that genetically is the same

Change Through Time -Evolve- change through time -Basic genetic characteristics do not change -Changing is important for survival -Explains diversity of life forms we see on Earth