What is Life? Levels of Organization Activity Characteristics of Living Things

Using your books… Summarize the levels of organization activity by finding the chart to the right and copying levels and examples into your notes.

Brainstorm first… What must so-called living things do to be living?

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Cells

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Reproduction

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Based on Genetic Code

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Growth and Development

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Need for Materials and Energy

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Response to Environment

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Maintaining Internal Balance

What characteristics do the things in these pictures have in common? Notetaking Tip --- list descriptions of pictures in your notes Evolution

Characteristics of Living Things Made of cells Reproduce Based on a genetic code (DNA) Grow and Develop Need Materials and Energy Respond to Stimuli (Environment) Maintain an Internal Balance (homeostasis) Evolve/Adapt over time

To clarify… To each characteristic add your own notes based on the in-class discussion and book reading.

To practice… For homework, answer the virus question. This is a good test type question to see if you know and understand the characteristics of living things!

Sample in class additional notes… Made of cells: Unicellular--one cell; Multicellular--many cells with different functions. Reproduce: Asexual--one organism makes exact copy; sexual--two organisms forms new combinations of genes. Based on a genetic code: DNA

Continued… Grow and Develop: Growth--size of cells, number of cells. Development--specialization of cells. Need materials and energy: Autotrophs--can convert light energy into chemical energy. Heterotrophs--get their chemical energy from other organisms. Respond to stimuli: ex. Plant grows towards sun. Movement fits here, but movement is NOT a characteristic of all living things!

Finished! Maintain and Internal Balance: Ex. Regulate temperature by sweating and shivering. Evolve: Changes in the genetic code create diversity among living things. In certain environments a particular trait provides and advantage and more individuals with that trait survive and reproduce. Over time, species change in response to environmental pressure.