What is Life? Living Things Unit Whacky World of Cell Theory Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylwH9DU

Preview Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXeygGxu8-8 (Discovery) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_uMH8Xpy0 (BBC) What do you think? Is Slime Mold intelligent? Why?

Characteristics of Living Things Organism: living things Examples: people, dogs, cats, fish, trees, plants. Non-living things: blocks, table, chairs, posters. All living things have 6 Characteristics! 1. Cellular Organization 2. Similar Chemicals 3. Use Energy 4. Grow & Develop 5. Respond to Surroundings 6. Reproduce

Cellular Organization Cell: basic unit and structure in an organism. Cell Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFuEo2ccTPA Two Categories Unicellular: single (one) celled organisms. Examples: bacteria (most numerous organisms on Earth), algae, fungi, amoeba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQiJbAL3-ZE Multicellular: organisms composed of many cells. Many have specialized cells that work together to keep you alive. Examples: nerve cells, muscle cells, skin cells, etc.

The Chemicals of Life The cells of living things are composed of chemicals. Most abundant is WATER (H2O) Others chemicals include: Carbohydrates – give cells energy Proteins and Lipids – building materials of cells (like wood and bricks are building materials for your house) Nucleic Acid – genetic material (give chemical instructions that direct the cell’s activities)

Energy Use Cells use ENERGY! For what? Growth and repair of injured parts Eyes and Brain Cells are busy reading this right now Stomach Cells are digesting food Blood Cells are moving chemicals around your body If you’re hurt, cells are repairing the damage An organisms cells are ALWAYS hard at work.

Growth and Development Growth: is the process of becoming larger Development: process of change throughout an organism’s life to produce a more complex organism. Example: Figure 3 as an acorn develops into an Oak Tree

Response to Surroundings What happens to the stems/leaves of a plant when it is set near a window? Stimulus: a change in an organism’s surroundings that causes the organism to react. Examples: Light, sound, temperature, etc. Response: an organism’s reaction or change in behavior. Examples: Flinch, dance, shiver/sweat, etc. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6-evXswaQs

Reproduction Reproduction: ability to reproduce or produce offspring that are similar to the parents. Examples: Robins lay eggs that develop into young robins / Sunflowers produce seeds that develop into sunflower plants, which make more seeds.

Life Comes from Life Spontaneous Generation: the mistaken idea that living things arise from nonliving sources. (Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlbh6024R1c ) Controlled Experiment: a scientist carries out two tests that are identical in every way except for one factor. Manipulated Variable: the one factor that the scientist changes. (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhZyXmgIFAo)

The Needs of Living Things All living things NEED 4 things in order to survive. They are: Energy Water Living Space Stable Internal Conditions

Energy Water Energy: food is the energy source for living organisms. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDalQv7d2cs Autotrophs: organisms that make their food. Example: Plants through photosynthesis Heterotrophs: organisms that CANNOT make their food and eat other autotrophs and heterotrophs. Example: Animals (people), dogs, mushrooms, slime molds Water All living organisms need water to survive.

Stable Internal Conditions Living Space All living organisms need a safe place to live, get food, and water. Stable Internal Conditions Homeostasis: maintenance of stable internal conditions despite changes surroundings. Example: Your body regulating it’s temperature / when you’re hot you sweat / when you’re cold you shiver (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quQr6X1Q58I