1. Characteristics of Life
Biology
The study of Life
Bio: Life
ology: Study of

2. Characteristics of Life
Response to Stimulus (Movement)
Growth & Development
Reproduction
Organization
Homeostasis
Use Energy

3. Living things acquire materials and energy, and they reproduce

4. Response to Stimulus
Stimulus is any response to an organism’s environment that causes it to react.

5. Living things grow and develop

6. Growth & Development All organisms change during their lives
Growth increases size
Development is like the stages of life that humans go through: infant, adolescent, (puberty), adult.

7. Reproduction The species must reproduce
This is how the species survives
A group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring are called a species.

8. Reproduction (cont)
Reproduction is a process that can allow gradual change in the characteristics of a species over time.
Change over time is evolution.
Change over time explains the great diversity of life.

9. Organization Each species has its own type of body organization
Cells, tissues, organs, systems are levels of organization
All body systems interact with other systems.

10. Levels of Biological Organization

11. Homeostasis
The ability of the body of an organism to maintain it’s internal environment or conditions in the body.
Example: Body Temperature
Maintaining balance within the body

12. Use Energy All living things obtain energy from their environment.
They use this energy to move, grow and develop, reproduce, have organized body systems, and maintain homeostasis.
Autotrophic vs Heterotrophic

13. Theme of Biology Living things do not exist in isolation
They are all functioning parts in the delicate balance of nature.
Life is dynamic, not static

14. Organization of the Biosphere
Chemical cycling- chemicals cycle through an ecosystem until they are returned to the environment through death and decomposition
Energy cycling-flows from the sun through photosynthesizers to others in food chain and dissipates back to the environment as heat

15. A grassland, a terrestrial ecosystem
Fig 1.6