1. Molecular Biology

2. Characteristics of Life
All living things share the following characteristics:
Cells
Sensitivity
Growth
Homeostasis
Reproduction
Metabolism
Adaptation

3. Cells Cells make up all living things
Multicellular organisms have many cells
Unicellular organisms have only one cell
Cells can divide and grow to produce more cells

4. Sensitivity Organisms respond to changes in the environment
Plants can respond by growing toward light sources or shedding leaves in the winter
Animals can respond by hibernating or fleeing from predators

5. Growth Organisms change over their lifetime (not evolve!)
They can get bigger in size and develop new structures or behaviors.
All organisms show an increase in physical and mental maturity the closer they get to adulthood (even you!)

6. Homeostasis
Organisms must maintain an internal environment that is appropriate for life
Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to keep a steady internal state (maintaining the correct amount of fluids, salts, hormones, food sources) in order to survive.

7. Reproduction All living things must have the ability to reproduce
Can be sexual or asexual
Sexual: between two organisms
Asexual: one organism creates offspring

8. Metabolism
Organisms must get energy from the environment and use the energy they obtain to live.
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions within an organism
Metabolism is how organisms are able to get and use energy (from food)

9. Adaptation
Over time organisms become specially suited to their particular environment
Adaptations occur slowly, over time

10. Cell Theory and Structure
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms. Cell theory forms the basis for the way biologists study organisms.
Cell theory states:
All living things are made out of cells
All cells come from living cells of the same kind
Cells are the basic unit of all living things

11. Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
Prokaryote
Eukaryotic
Cell does not have true nucleus
Not surrounded by a membrane
No membrane bound organelles
More primitive
Example: bacteria
Has a true nucleus that is surrounded by a membrane
Has several membrane-bound organelles
Tend to be larger and more complex
Examples: plants and animals

12. Energy
Organisms get energy by oxidizing their food, releasing some of its energy as thermal energy.
Organisms must eat or be eaten by others for food.
Matter is transferred from organisms to the physical environment when molecules from food react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water in a process called cellular respiration

13. Energy Energy can change from one form to another in living things
Animals get energy from oxidizing their food, releasing some of its energy as heat
Almost all food energy comes originally from sunlight

14. Cellular Respiration
Cells convert energy (as glucose) to a more usable form of energy called ATP (adenosine triphosphate, but you can just call it ATP)
The energy stored in ATP provides the means by which cells are able to carry out their functions

15. Summary
Matter moves within individual organisms through a series of chemical reactions in which food is turned into energy
Chemical energy is transferred from one organism to another for food
The atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of it.