1. Biology and the Characteristics of Life
K. Beris

2. Biology Biology is the study of living things
There are numerous branches of Biology
Examples:
Botany
Zoology
Icthyology
Virology

3. Characteristics of Living Things
Made of cells in an orderly structure
Smallest unit of living things
Cells make up tissues tissues make up organs organs make up organ systems organ systems make up the organism

4. Living things reproduce
Reproduction means to produce offspring which resembles their parents
Two types of reproduction
Sexual – two cells from different parents unite
Asexual – from a single parent

5. Living things are based on a Universal Genetic Code
DNA determines inherited traits from parents

6. Living things grow and develop
Grow means to increase in size
Development means that the organism changes in appearance

7. Living things obtain materials and use energy
Metabolism means to break down materials to create energy and carry out life processes
Autotrophs means to make their own food such as plants
Heterotrophs must consume other things to create energy
Decomposers break down dead material for food

8. Living things respond to their environment
Make changes according to its environment
They react to a stimulus
Reaction is a response

9. Living things maintain a stable internal environment
Homeostasis is the process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

10. Living things change over time
They adapt to long range changes to better survive in their environment
This takes a long period of time