What does it mean to be alive????

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE REQUIRE ENERGY REQUIRE ENERGY CAN REPRODUCE CAN REPRODUCE GROW AND DEVELOP GROW AND DEVELOP MADE OF CELLS MADE OF CELLS HAVE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION HAVE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION RESPOND TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT – MAINTAIN SOME LEVEL OF HOMEOSTASIS RESPOND TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT – MAINTAIN SOME LEVEL OF HOMEOSTASIS

HIERARCHY OF LIFE LEVELS OF STUDY

1. BIOSPHERE: ALL LIFE ON THIS PLANET From several km in the atmosphere to several km into the ground

2. BIOME: A geographic area characterized by particular life forms and a particular climate. Examples: Tundra, taiga (pine forest), deciduous forest, rainforest, desert, grasslands- prairie.

3. ECOSYSTEM: Abiotic and biotic factors in a particular area interacting

4. COMMUNITY: All living beings in an area – all the populations in one area

5. POPULATION: All the members of the same species living in the same area at the same historical time period

6. SPECIES: Group of similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Are a Poodle and a German Shepherd the same species? Are a Poodle and a German Shepherd the same species? YES – they can mate and produce a mutt YES – they can mate and produce a mutt Are a horse and zebra the same species? Are a horse and zebra the same species? NO – no offspring (children) NO – no offspring (children) Are a horse, a donkey, or a mule the same species? Are a horse, a donkey, or a mule the same species? NO – a female horse and a male donkey can mate and produce a mule BUT the mule is sterile (it can’t produce children itself). Note a male horse and a female donkey produce a hinny. NO – a female horse and a male donkey can mate and produce a mule BUT the mule is sterile (it can’t produce children itself). Note a male horse and a female donkey produce a hinny.

7. INDIVIDUAL ORGANISMS 8. SYSTEMS 9. ORGANS 10. TISSUE

11. CELL: The basic structural and functional unit of life

12. ORGANELLES: Specialized cell parts Examples include the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, vacuoles, Golgi bodies, centrioles, etc….

13. BIOMOLECULES: “Life” Molecules. Molecules (chemicals) found in living organisms.

4 Types of Biomolecules Proteins (made of amino acids) Proteins (made of amino acids) Carbohydrates (used for ready energy Carbohydrates (used for ready energy Lipids (fats – used for stored energy) Lipids (fats – used for stored energy) Nucleic Acids (DNA & RNA) … the blueprints of life Nucleic Acids (DNA & RNA) … the blueprints of life

OTHER LEVELS 14. MOLECULES AND ATOMS 14. MOLECULES AND ATOMS 15. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES (Proton, Neutron, Electrons) 15. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES (Proton, Neutron, Electrons) 16. Quarks, Leptons, Hadrons, Bosons, etc Quarks, Leptons, Hadrons, Bosons, etc..