Characteristics of Living Things What makes something an organism?

Key Words  Organism:  Biotic:  Abiotic:

Key Words  Organism: any living thing  Biotic:  Abiotic:

Key Words  Organism: any living thing  Biotic: a term used to describe a living or once living thing  Abiotic:

Key Words  Organism: any living thing  Biotic: a term used to describe a living or once living thing  Abiotic: a term used to describe something that was never living

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things are organized

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things are organized  Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane)

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things are organized  Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane)  Smallest units of an organism that can be considered alive

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things are organized.  Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane)  Smallest units of an organism that can be considered alive  Single cell: unicellular; Many cells: multicellular

Cells

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things reproduce

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing)

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing)  Two types:

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing)  Two types:  Sexual reproduction: cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism; new mix of genetic material

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing)  Two types:  Sexual reproduction: cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism; new mix of genetic material  Asexual reproduction: new organism has a single parent; May result when a piece breaks off from the parent organism or when the parent organism divides in two

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Reproduction involves the replication of DNA molecules to pass on hereditary information

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things reproduce  Reproduction involves the replication of DNA molecules to pass on hereditary information  This directs the structure of of the cell and its metabolism.

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things grow and develop

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things grow and develop  Growth: increase in size (cell number)

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things grow and develop  Growth: increase in size (cell number)  Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things grow and develop  Growth: increase in size (cell number)  Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time  Cells go through differentiation to become specialized

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things grow and develop  Growth: increase in size (cell number)  Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time  Cells go through differentiation to become specialized  May include periods of rapid and dramatic change (humans, butterflies, frogs, etc)

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things obtain and use materials and energy.  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things obtain and use materials and energy.  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes  All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things obtain and use materials and energy.  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes  All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies  Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things obtain and use materials and energy.  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes  All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies  Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)  Eat food

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things obtain and use materials and energy.  Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes  All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies  Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)  Eat food  Breathe/respire

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things respond to their environment.

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things respond to their environment.  Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things respond to their environment.  Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds  External: come from the environment outside the organism; ex. Light, temperature (plant roots respond to gravity by growing down)

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things respond to their environment.  Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds  External: come from the environment outside the organism; ex. Light, temperature (plant roots respond to gravity by growing down)  Internal: come from the environment inside the organism; ex. Sugar glucose (if it’s low, your body will respond by making you feel hungry)

Characteristics of Living Things

 Living things maintain a stable internal environment.

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things maintain a stable internal environment.  Homeostasis: keeping a stable internal environment

Characteristics of Living Things  Living things maintain a stable internal environment.  Homeostasis: keeping a stable internal environment  Ex. When your body temperature goes too low, you shiver; muscle movement creates warmth

Characteristics of Living things  Living things have methods for eliminating waste

Characteristics of Living things

 Living things have methods for eliminating waste  Living things must have a method for eliminating bi- products or waste products

Characteristics of Living things  Living things have methods for eliminating waste  Living things must have a method for eliminating bi- products or waste products  Ex. In humans, exhaling, defecation, urination

Characteristics of Living things  Living things are adapted.  Adaptations: modifications that make an organism suited to its way of life and environment  Occur through evolution via natural selection  When a new variation arises that allows certain members of the species to capture more resources, these members tend to survive and to have more offspring than the other, unchanged members.  Over time, the new variation becomes more prevalent in the population.

Let’s practice…  Our cat had kittens yesterday.  Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy.  When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions.  My children look a lot like their father.

Let’s practice…  Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction  Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy.  When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions.  My children look a lot like their father.

Let’s practice…  Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction  Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth  When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions.  My children look a lot like their father.

Let’s practice…  Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction  Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth  When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. Cells  My children look a lot like their father.

Let’s practice…  Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction  Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth  When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. Cells  My children look a lot like their father. Genetic code

More practice…  I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down.  My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway.  Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom?  I am always tired after I run a mile.

More practice…  I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis  My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway.  Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom?  I am always tired after I run a mile.

More practice…  I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis  My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response  Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom?  I am always tired after I run a mile.

More practice…  I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis  My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response  Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? Waste  I am always tired after I run a mile.

More practice…  I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis  My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response  Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? Waste  I am always tired after I run a mile. Energy