Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Organisms Made up of units known as cells Reproduce Based on universal genetic code Growth and development Obtain and use materials and energy Respond to their environment Maintain stable internal environment (homeostasis) As a group POPULATIONS of living things change over time

Composed of cells

Cells Cells are considered to be the basic unit of life Cells are incredibly highly organized collections of highly organized chemicals that are bound by a membrane that collectively from a living structure. Display all other listed attributes of living organisms listed here. Much diversity in cells Organisms are either unicellular (one cell) or multicellular (many cells)

Reproduction

Reproduction Sexual : half of the genetic information from each of 2 parents to produce new genetic arrangement Produces genetic diversity Asexual: single parent organism produces offspring genetically identical to them. Generally produces many organisms relatively quickly

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction (parthenogenesis)

The Genetic Code DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Growth and Development Growth generally equates to a change in size Positive growth or negative growth Positive growth is a result of: -Increase in the size of the cell(s) -Increase in the number of cells -Increase in material between cells (i.e. bone tissue)

Growth and Development

Growth and Development Development is mostly due ultimately to cell differentiation.

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Growth and Development

Need for Materials and Energy Metabolism: the sum total of all of the chemical reactions (responsible for life processes) occurring within an organism at a give time. Metabolism requires chemical energy which is contained in high energy organic molecules that are usable to the organism. Heterotrophs: must obtain high energy molecules already assembled (you are a heterotroph) Autotrophs are able to use an inorganic energy source (such as, but not only sunlight) to assemble low energy inorganic molecules into the high energy organic molecules necessary for metabolism.

Response to the Environment Organisms must be able to adapt both immediate and long term to their ever changing environment.

Response to the Environment

Maintaining Proper Internal Balance

Evolution Populations tend to change over time.

Evolution

Branches (Sub disciplines) of Biology Anatomy | Bioinformatics | Botany | Ecology | Genetics | Marine biology | Human biology | Cell biology | Microbiology | Molecular biology | Biochemistry | Paleontology | Physiology | Taxonomy | Astrobiology | Zoology Subdisciplines of Botany ⇒ Agronomy—Application of plant science to crop production ⇒ Bryology—Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts ⇒ Economic botany—Study of plants of economic use or value ⇒ Ethnobotany—Relationship between humans and plants ⇒ Forestry—Forest management and related studies ⇒ Horticulture—Cultivated plants ⇒ Lichenology—The study of lichens ⇒ Paleobotany—Fossil plants ⇒ Palynology—Pollen and spores ⇒ Phycology—Algae ⇒ Phytochemistry—Plant secondary chemistry and chemical processes ⇒ Phytopathology—Plant diseases ⇒ Plant anatomy—Cell and tissue structure ⇒ Plant biotechnology —Present technology used in different subdisciplines in plant science ⇒ Plant breeding —Hybridization in plants ⇒ Plant ecology—Role of plants in the environment ⇒ Plant morphology—Structure and life cycles ⇒ Plant physiology—Life functions of plants ⇒ Plant systematics—Classification and naming of plants

Levels of Organization in Biology