1. The study of living things
Biology
The study of living things

2. What does it mean to be alive?
Cellular organization
Reproduction
Metabolism
Homeostasis
Heredity
Responsiveness (Evolution)
Growth and Development (Interdependence)

3. Cellular organization
The smallest unit capable of all life functions
All things are made of one or more cells
The basic structure of cells is the same in all organisms
Some cells are more complex than others

4. Reproduction All living things can reproduce
Process by which organisms make more of their own kind
Reproduction is essential since no organism lives forever

5. Metabolism
The sum of all of the chemical reactions carried out in an organism
All living things use energy to grow, move, and process information
With out energy, life will stop

6. Homeostasis
The maintenance of stable internal conditions in spite of changes in the external environment
A stable internal environment is needed for an organism to function properly
Organisms adjust their processes, according to stimulus in their environment

7. Heredity
The ability to pass on characteristics (traits) to offspring through genes
Genes are sets of inherited instructions for making proteins
These instructions are encoded on DNA

8. Responsiveness (Evolution)
Individuals that are adapted to meet natures challenges survive, reproduce and become more common
Because of these changes or mutations, individuals in a species are different

9. Growth and Development (Interdependence)
Living and interacting with other organisms and the non living part of their environment
Result of a long history of evolutionary adjustments
Example: food web/food chain