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

2. Biology = the study of life
There are 8 characteristics of life
To be considered living, organism must exhibit all 8.
No single characteristic is enough to describe a living thing.

3. Life!!! All living things share some basic properties.
Cellular Organization
Reproduction
Metabolism (Obtain and Use Energy)
Homeostasis
Heredity
Responsiveness
Growth and Development
Adapt Through Evolution

4. All Living Things are Made Up of Cells
All Living Things are Made Up of Cells
Smallest unit capable of all life functions
Unicellular Organisms
Entire organism is made up of one single cell
Bacteria

5. Multicellular Organisms
The organism is made up of many cells
Cells have specialized functions within the organism

6. All Living Things Reproduce
All Living Things Reproduce
Reproduction is the process of producing new organisms of the same type
Asexual Reproduction
A single parent organism reproducing by itself
Offspring is identical to parent

7. Sexual Reproduction
Two different parent organisms contribute genetic information
Offspring is unique from both parents

8. All Organisms are based on a Genetic Code
All Organisms are based on a Genetic Code
DNA is the genetic code found in every cell
DNA contains Genes
Genes carry hereditary information
DNA is inherited from parents and controls traits (it’s the reason you resemble your parents).

9. All Living Things Grow and Develop
All Living Things Grow and Develop
Growth means to get bigger in size

10. All Living Things Grow and Develop
All Living Things Grow and Develop
Development involves a change in the physical form or physiological make-up of an organism

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

12. 
Metabolism
the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up and breaks down materials as it carries out life processes

13. All Living Things Respond to Their Environment
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

14. All Organisms Maintain Homeostasis
All Organisms Maintain Homeostasis
Homeostasis = the process of keeping the internal environment stable/balanced/constant despite changing conditions around the organism
Body temperature
Blood volume
pH balance
Water balance

15. All Living Things Change Over Time
All Living Things Change Over Time
Evolution: adapting to the environment
Adaptation
A process that enables organisms to become better suited to their environment
Species obtain adaptations through evolution over hundreds, thousands, and millions of years