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Studying life What does it mean to be alive? How do Biologists study life?
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Living http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/ 8490-understanding-cells-the- characteristics-of-life-video.htmhttp://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/ 8490-understanding-cells-the- characteristics-of-life-video.htm
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To be alive you must - Reproduce. Genetic code. Grow, develop. Obtain and use energy. Respond to the environment. Maintain a stable internal environment. Change over time.
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Reproduction Reproduction: to copy, to produce again… 1.Sexual reproduction: two cells from two organisms unite to produce one for one new organism. (two parents) 2.Asexual reproduction: a cell from a single organism divides to form the cell for a new organism. (one parent)
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Genetic code Offspring must arise from an organism with similar genetic material. – DNA or RNA (in rare cases proteins) –A brown eyed mother and a blue eyed father produce a hazel eyed child. The genes for eye color are different but they share common human DNA- they are all three human!
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Grow, Develop All living things grow during some part of the life span.
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Obtain and Use Energy Metabolism: burning organic fuel to produce energy for life processes. All life gets its energy from the sun- some organisms collect sun energy directly (plants), some organisms eat organisms that collect sun energy (everything else).
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Respond to the Environment Living things respond to stimuli (signals) from the environment. –Plants respond to light by? –Humans respond to eating lots of candy by?
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Maintain an Internal Env. Homeostasis: process that living things use to maintain a stable internal environment. What happens when you cannot maintain a stable internal env? –Fever! –Hypothermia! –Dehydration! –Etc
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Change Over Time All living things evolve.
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Cells Smallest unit of life - all living things are made up of cells. Cell: collection of living material separated from the environment.
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Questions?
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