1. Characteristics of Life

2. Biology The Study of Life Bio logy (Greek) Life Study of
But what is life???

3. What about these things?
Living Things
What are some examples of living things?
Humans
Plants
Insects
Mold
Bacteria
What about these things?
Rocks, bicycles, books

4. What Does it Mean to Be Alive?
The Characteristics of Life

5. Characteristics of Living Things
Biologists have created a list of characteristics by which we can recognize living things

6. Life!!! All living things….. Are made of one or more Cells Reproduce
Obtain and Use Energy
Respond to their Environment
Grow and Develop
Adapt Through Evolution

7. 1. All Living Things are Made Up of Cells
Cells are basic structural units of life.
Smallest unit capable of all life functions.
Cells are the building blocks of all organisms = living things.

8. 1. All Living Things are Made Up of Cells
Two types of Organisms:
Unicellular Organisms
Entire organism is made up of one single cell
Bacteria and protists

9. UniCellular

10. 1. All Living Things are Made Up of Cells
Multicellular Organisms
The organism is made up of many cells
Cells have specialized functions within the organism
Epithelial cells (like inside your cheek)

11. MultiCellular

12. 2. All Living Things Reproduce
Reproduction is the process of producing new organisms of the same type.
Sexual Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction
Two different parent organisms contribute genetic information
Involves the combination of male and female sex cells
One parent organism reproducing by itself

13. Asexual

14. Sexual: a new genetic combination

15. 3. All Living Things Obtain and Use Energy
Living organisms need energy to grow, develop, repair damage, and reproduce

16. Anabolism
The process of building up complex substances from simpler substances
Building up cells and cellular components
Photosynthesis

17. Catabolism
The process of breaking down complex substances into simpler substances to release energy
Digestion
Cellular Respiration

18. 3. All Living Things Obtain and Use Energy
Metabolism:
the sum total of all the chemical reactions in your body
Anabolism + Catabolism =
Metabolism!!!

19. 4. All Living Things Respond to Their Environment
An example is a plant’s leaves and stems growing toward light
Organisms react to stimuli:
Light
Temperature
Odor
Sound
Gravity
Heat
Water
Pressure

20. All Organisms Maintain Homeostasis
A stable state of conditions in the body that are necessary for life
Body temperature
Blood volume
pH balance
Water balance

21. Stable Interior

22. Even though exterior conditions are changing

23. 5. All Living Things Grow
Growth means to get bigger in size

24. And Develop
Development involves a change in the physical form or make-up of an organism
Example: Frog metamorphosis
A frog begins as a single cell in a fertilized egg, then grows into a tadpole, and eventually into a fully grown frog.

25. Development

26. 6. All Living Things Adapt to Their Environment Through Evolution
Adaptation
A process that enables organisms to become better suited to their environment
Species obtain adaptations through evolution over great periods of time

27. An Example of Adaptation
Desert plants have succulent waxy leaves and stems to store water and reduce water loss

28. More Resources
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