1. Define Life Create a list of characteristics associated with life--what tells you that something is alive? Brainstorm with your partner. Write them in the space up top (not by the numbers, we’ll fill those in in a bit)

2. What is biology? The study of living things All living things share certain characteristics

3. Characteristics of Living Things

4. 1.Contain Carbon Remember Organic compounds

5. 2. Composed of 1 or more cells Unicellular (one cell) - ex. Bacteria Multicellular (many cells) - ex. Animals, plants

6. 3. Require energy to survive Autotrophs - get energy from sun Heterotrophs - get energy by consuming nutrients from their environment

7. 4. All living things reproduce Sexual - two sex cells required (sperm and egg) Asexual - only one parent cell is needed

8. 5. Grow and develop Each cell divides to make new cells (cell division) – results in growth Some cells become specialized and perform different jobs than others (differentiation)

9. 6. Respond to stimuli in their environment Stimuli - factors in the environment that living things react to (ex. Light, temperature, sound, etc.)

10. 7. Adapt to their environment and evolve over time Evolution - gradual change in a population of organisms over time Individuals DO NOT evolve

11. 8. Maintain homeostasis Homeostasis – a relatively stable internal environment (within a certain range) - (ex. Human body temperature (approximately 98.6 degrees F))

12. 9. Have DNA All living things have DNA DNA passes on genetic information from one generation to the next

13. Do you think there is life elsewhere in the universe? Take a couple minutes to think about what you think and explain WHY you think that. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/h unt-alien-earths.html

14. ASTROBIOLOGY *study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe Studying ways to look for life on other planets or moons.

15. 1. Temperature Must be between -15 to 115 deg Celsius 5 to 239 deg F

16. 2. Water Planet must have liquid water It helps with chemical reactions

17. 3. Atmosphere Atmospheres protect planets from UV rays, meteorites, etc. They can also serve as a source for nutrients, i.e. Nitrogen

18. 4. Energy All life needs a source of energy Sun – light energy -> plants ->animals Chemical energy – from volcanoes

19. 5. Nutrients Nutrients are the raw materials organisms need to construct and maintain their bodies Ex. Carbon, Nitrogen, minerals

20. Extra: Magnetic Field Earth’s magnetic field protects us from ions & solar wind that would kill all living things