Characteristics of Life 8 Life Functions

What is Biology? Biology is the study of all living things Living things are called organisms Organisms include bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, & animals All living things share a group of characteristics.

8 Life Processes Something is only alive if it does all eight processes.

Transport Regulation Nutrition Grow & Develop 5. Excretion 6. Respiration 7. Synthesis 8. Reproduction

Transport All living things circulate materials Individual cells must circulate materials within themselves Organisms must be able to transport materials around the entire organism Nutrients and wastes are two materials that are transported.

Regulation All living things are sensitive They respond to their environment All living things respond to changes in their environment. Living things notice changes in their surroundings and react to them. They maintain an internal balance called homeostasis. Eg. Plants grow towards the light. Eg. People react to the temperature around them

Regulation Organisms Respond to stimuli (Temperature, Water, Food Supplies, etc.) In Order To Survive & Reproduce

Nutrition Food is used to provide energy. Green plants make their own food using sunlight. Animals eat plants or other animals. Autotrophs can make their own food Photoautotrophs use sunlight to make food (photosynthesis) Chemoautotrophs use chemicals such as iron & sulfur as their energy

Growth and Development

Organisms grow by producing MORE CELLS & by cell ENLARGEMENT Organisms develop as they mature into an adult organism

Excretion All living things get rid of wastes Waste substances must be removed from the body. Plants and animals both need to get rid of waste gas and water.

Respiration Cellular Respiration Plants and animals use the oxygen in the air to turn food into energy. This process occurs on a cellular level All living things require Food & Energy Cellular Respiration Cells releasing the chemical energy stored in foods 6O2 + C6H12O6 6CO2 + 6H2O

Synthesis All living organisms create complex substances in their bodies from simpler ones. DNA (deoxyribose nucleic acid) carries the genetic code for all organisms All organisms contain DNA DNA codes for the proteins that make up cells & do all the work

Reproduction Organisms Reproduce to Pass on their Genetic Traits Two Types of Reproduction Sexual and Asexual Reproduction This life processes also occurs in each organism for repair and renewal. This is the only life process that is not necessary for the survival of the organism

Metabolism Sum of all the chemical reactions in an organism All require energy Sunlight is the ultimate energy for life on Earth

Homeostasis Keeping The Internal Environment (Homeostasis) Of The Cell or Organism Within The Ranges Required For Life Stable internal conditions of pH, temperature, water balance, etc

Organization of Life Atoms Molecules Organelles Cells – life starts here Tissues Organs System Organism

Organization of Life Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere