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Characteristics of Living Things What makes something an organism?
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Key Words Organism: Biotic: Abiotic:
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Key Words Organism: any living thing Biotic: Abiotic:
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Key Words Organism: any living thing Biotic: a term used to describe a living or once living thing Abiotic:
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Key Words Organism: any living thing Biotic: a term used to describe a living or once living thing Abiotic: a term used to describe something that was never living
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things are organized
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things are organized Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane)
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things are organized Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane) Smallest units of an organism that can be considered alive
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things are organized. Cell: collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings (cell membrane) Smallest units of an organism that can be considered alive Single cell: unicellular; Many cells: multicellular
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Cells
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things reproduce
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing)
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing) Two types:
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing) Two types: Sexual reproduction: cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism; new mix of genetic material
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Production of new organisms or cells (healing, growing) Two types: Sexual reproduction: cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism; new mix of genetic material Asexual reproduction: new organism has a single parent; May result when a piece breaks off from the parent organism or when the parent organism divides in two
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Reproduction involves the replication of DNA molecules to pass on hereditary information
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things reproduce Reproduction involves the replication of DNA molecules to pass on hereditary information This directs the structure of of the cell and its metabolism.
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things grow and develop
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things grow and develop Growth: increase in size (cell number)
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things grow and develop Growth: increase in size (cell number) Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things grow and develop Growth: increase in size (cell number) Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time Cells go through differentiation to become specialized
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things grow and develop Growth: increase in size (cell number) Development: change in shape and structure of an organism over time Cells go through differentiation to become specialized May include periods of rapid and dramatic change (humans, butterflies, frogs, etc)
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things obtain and use materials and energy.
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis)
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis) Eat food
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Metabolism: combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes All organisms take in selected materials from their environment; how they do so varies Absorb sunlight (photosynthesis) Eat food Breathe/respire
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things respond to their environment.
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things respond to their environment. Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things respond to their environment. Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds External: come from the environment outside the organism; ex. Light, temperature (plant roots respond to gravity by growing down)
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things respond to their environment. Stimulus: signal to which an organism responds External: come from the environment outside the organism; ex. Light, temperature (plant roots respond to gravity by growing down) Internal: come from the environment inside the organism; ex. Sugar glucose (if it’s low, your body will respond by making you feel hungry)
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Characteristics of Living Things
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Living things maintain a stable internal environment.
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things maintain a stable internal environment. Homeostasis: keeping a stable internal environment
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Characteristics of Living Things Living things maintain a stable internal environment. Homeostasis: keeping a stable internal environment Ex. When your body temperature goes too low, you shiver; muscle movement creates warmth
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Characteristics of Living things Living things have methods for eliminating waste
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Characteristics of Living things
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Living things have methods for eliminating waste Living things must have a method for eliminating bi- products or waste products
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Characteristics of Living things Living things have methods for eliminating waste Living things must have a method for eliminating bi- products or waste products Ex. In humans, exhaling, defecation, urination
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Characteristics of Living things Living things are adapted. Adaptations: modifications that make an organism suited to its way of life and environment Occur through evolution via natural selection When a new variation arises that allows certain members of the species to capture more resources, these members tend to survive and to have more offspring than the other, unchanged members. Over time, the new variation becomes more prevalent in the population.
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Let’s practice… Our cat had kittens yesterday. Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. My children look a lot like their father.
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Let’s practice… Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. My children look a lot like their father.
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Let’s practice… Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. My children look a lot like their father.
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Let’s practice… Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. Cells My children look a lot like their father.
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Let’s practice… Our cat had kittens yesterday: Reproduction Our dog was much smaller when it was a puppy. Growth When you look at a piece of a plant leaf under a microscope, you see many smaller divisions. Cells My children look a lot like their father. Genetic code
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More practice… I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? I am always tired after I run a mile.
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More practice… I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? I am always tired after I run a mile.
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More practice… I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? I am always tired after I run a mile.
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More practice… I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? Waste I am always tired after I run a mile.
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More practice… I sweat a lot after football practice. It helps me cool down. Homeostasis My cat ran under the porch when his car pulled into the driveway. Response Mrs. Lynch, can I go to the bathroom? Waste I am always tired after I run a mile. Energy
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