Characteristics of Life

What is Biology? Bio = life Ology = the study of So biology is the study of life.

What is Life? There are 8 characteristics: 1. Cellular Organization: The cell is the most basic and smallest unit capable of all life functions. *this is why viruses are not considered alive! Two options: Unicellular: Entire organism composed of only one cell. Multicellular: Organism composed of more than one cell.

There are 6 aspects of metabolism that all living things share: 2. Uses Energy Metabolism : All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. There are 6 aspects of metabolism that all living things share: Nutrition (obtaining energy)

All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Metabolism: All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Nutrition (eating food) Transport (moving the nutrients in your body) c. Respiration (Breaking food down into energy)

All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Metabolism: All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Nutrition (eating food) Transport (moving the nutrients in your body) Respiration (Breaking food down into energy) Excretion (getting rid of waste) Synthesis (incorporation of food nutrients)

All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Metabolism: All of the chemical reactions that an organism carries out. Nutrition (eating food) Transport (moving the nutrients in your body) Respiration (Breaking food down into energy) Excretion (getting rid of waste) Synthesis (incorporation of food nutrients) Regulation (Homeostasis: The processes that keep living organisms stable in constantly changing environments. Ex. Temperature, salinity, acidity, amounts of nutrients and wastes...)

Homeostasis (cont.) Both of these humans live in vastly different environments and have similar internal body temperatures and conditions.

3. Reproduction: Ability to make copies of themselves. Heredity: Ability to pass one’s characteristics (or genes) to their offspring.

4. System of Related Parts Living things have parts that work together to make a whole. Example: A human has many organs such as a heart and lungs that function together in the human body.

5. Respond to their Environment: Movement: Such as to find food. Stimuli and Response: Respond to various stimuli in their environment such as light, temp, gravity, moisture levels, chemicals, etc.

6. Uses DNA as genetic material

7. Development: Allows organisms to mature and gain the ability to reproduce. Below is the growth of a nerve cell.

8. All living things evolve Evolve: Change over Time Change based on environmental pressure.