1. OR The elusive phenomenon of life
What is Life? OR
The elusive phenomenon of life

2. Historically…
Living systems were distinguished because they contain a “vital force”

3. Today
We now know there is not 1 substance or force that is unique to life. There are 7 characteristics to define living things
Biologists see its ancient molecular origins and its degree of organization.

4. Characteristic 1 Life is highly organized and complex.
Evidence:1. biochemical structure of life is complex
2. made of cells - structure, function and reproduction
3. depends on other life forms through recycling
4. each organism is recognized by its characteristic appearance and structure

5. Characteristic 2
Living things have metabolism – the sum of all chemical activities in a living system
Evidence:
1. obtains and uses energy from the environment; is classified based on food getting strategies
2. Energy is used for growth, repair, maintenance and to increase the high degree of orderliness of the body

6. Characteristic 3
Life responds to environmental stimuli: living things respond to physical and chemical changes in the environment-- or else they die!
Evidence:
1. Movement to light or away from stimuli
2. Changes in temperature, pressure, sound, water, air, soil

7. Characteristic 4 Living things grow and develop (change)
Evidence: there is an increase in the amount of living material and an increase in the complexity of the organism over time

8. Characteristic 5 Life can maintain homeostasis.
An organism carefully and constantly regulates and maintains metabolic processes in a balanced state by adjusting to changes
Evidence:
1. adjusts to changes in temperature, light,
pressure, damage

9. Characteristic 6
Life can reproduce – make an exact or similar copy of itself – asexual or sexual
Evidence:
1. All life comes only from other life
2. The information for “life” is in the genetic material (DNA) which is passed from generation to generation

10. Characteristic 7 Life can adapt or evolve Evidence:
1. Organisms/species change or adapt to their environment which increases survival
2. Can be structural, physiological, behavioral OR a combination…
3. Populations can evolve or change over time (individuals DO NOT evolve).
A population becomes a collection of the coordinated adaptations of the members

11. Rally Coach: 1.iPhone 2. Televison 3. Turtle shell 4. Bacterium
5. Boogers
6. Tupac
1. Car
2. Apple
3. Poop
4. Butterfly
5. Computer
6. Pencil

12. Alive?
Dead?
Nonliving?
Product of Life?
Dormant?

13. Characterizing Objects Lab
Purpose/Problem: To characterize objects through observations and classify them as:
alive
dead
non-living
dormant
product of a living organism

14. Research/Hypothesis:
Define the terms listed in the purpose/problem section.

15. Experiment:
A. Equipment and Materials - objects
to characterize in lab, paper,
pencil
B. Procedure - observe an object and
characterize it using terms from Purpose/Problem

16. Data: Create a chart
Specimen/Object Characterization

17. Conclusion: Use the 3 part form
Introduction - Start with an opening sentence that grabs the reader (related to lab content)…then tell what you did and why you did it.

18. Conclusion: Use the 3 part form
Body - discuss each observation
Use the data as evidence for your analysis

19. Conclusion: Use the 3 part form
Summary - explain how this information
can be used, indicate places where errors
took place, and discuss changes that could
make the experiment more valid.