Write down and answer the following essential question before the bell rings and then you are to remain quiet until I give you further directions: Essential Question: What do you think makes something alive? What is life?

What is Biology?

Biology is the study of life! What does it mean to be “alive”? Being able to move? Having lungs? Living in sunlight? Having a mouth? Is this alive?

Slime molds Are actually alive! Use spores to reproduce and decomposes tiny organisms

Bornean flat-headed frog – no lungs; breathes through skin Lichen – doesn’t move No sunlight No mouth

7 Characteristics of Life 1. Has 1 or more cells Cells = smallest unit of life Cells make up tissues Tissues make up organs Organs make up organ systems Organ systems make up an organism

7 Characteristics of Life 2. Can reproduce All organisms aim to produce offspring (“babies”) in some way

7 Characteristics of Life 3. Uses water and energy to live and grow Metabolism – total chemical reactions that occur in an organism Ultimately all energy comes from the sun!

7 Characteristics of Life 4. Maintains homeostasis – ability to respond to your surroundings in order to stay alive Why do you sweat?

7 Characteristics of Life 5. Has DNA or RNA and passes this to it’s offspring Viruses have DNA or RNA but are not considered living – why not?

7 Characteristics of Life 6. Can adapt to changes (stimuli) to some degree How is this a response to stimuli?

7 Characteristics of Life 7. Shows growth and development Grows in size and usually complexity (becomes more complicated) How did you change as you grew from a baby to now?

6 Unifying themes of Biology Main ideas that help explain biology…

#1 - Interdependence of Organisms How do organisms interact with each other?

#2 - Matter, Energy, and Organization Brainstorm how these 3 terms relate to living things…

#3 - Cell structure and function What do cells have to do with living things? Why is this important?

#4 - Stability and Homeostasis Homeostasis - Why is it important for living things to be able to do this? Why do you blink? Why does your blood clot? Why do you shiver?

#5 - Reproduction and Inheritance Why is it important for organisms to reproduce?

#6 - Evolution (change) How and why do you think organisms change over time?

Wrap it up… Based on what you’ve learned so far, brainstorm some key words that pop into your head when you think about biology…