Characteristics of Living Things

1) All living things are composed of one or more cells Unicellular Organisms include…

1) All living things are composed of one or more cells Multicellular Cells include…

Give an example of cell specialization….

Why couldn’t a protist exhibit cell specialization?

2) All living things undergo growth and development Changes in size Changes in form Changes in abilities All occuring within the lifespan of an organism

2) All living things undergo growth and development

What is the difference between growth in unicellular and multicellular organisms?

What evidence do you see of “growth and development” in the diagram? Give at least one example of each examples.

3) All living things reproduce: Asexual

Asexual Reproduction 1) One Parent Organism 2) Offspring are identical (genetically) to the parent 3) Most common in 1 cell organisms (bacteria and protists) and fungi 4) Best suited for stable (unchanging) environments (If its not broke – don’t fix it)

3) All living things reproduce: Sexual

Sexual Reproduction 1) 2 Parents 2) Genetic Variability between parents and offspring (they don’t match) 3) Occurs in ALL animals and plants 4) Genetic Variation give the species more opportunities to survive in an unstable (changing) environment

What does the term “fertile” mean when we say “fertile offspring?

What does it mean to have fertile offspring? Fertile offspring can have babies of their own Example: a pug and a Rottweiler could have fertile puppies (strange but true)….therefore the pug and Rottweiller are the same species

What does it mean to have fertile offspring? Example: A horse and a donkey can mate and produce an offspring known as a mule However, the mule is sterile (it can not reproduce) Therefore horse and donkeys belong to different species

Lions and Tigers (and bears) OH MY! Ligers are the result of a lion dad and a tiger mom. Tigons are the result of a tiger dad and a lion mom Female Ligers and Tigons are fertile, while male Ligers and Tigons are sterile What does this say about lions and tigers as separate species?

What does the survival of a species depend on? Reproduction What happens if a species does not reproduce? They go extinct

4) Living things adapt and evolve over time Adaptations are traits that allow a species to survive longer/better The better a species is at surviving the more likely they are to reproduce (or if they’re lucky – reproduce many times) The more reproduction – the more “successful” a species is

Changes within a species that produce adaptive traits Evolution 5) Living things adapt and evolve over time

Adaptations you might recognize…

Why do some types of traits survive and others don’t? Some are better suited for the environment Would you wear high heels to run in a track meet? Would you were hiking boots to a black tie formal event? WHY NOT???

An example….

Where do new traits come from? MUTATIONS! A mutation is a change in the DNA Changes can… BE HELPFUL BE HARMFUL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE

Mutations are not “directable” Can we create mutations on purpose? Can we wish for or will into existence mutations? Can we control what mutations come into being?

Group vs Individual IMPORTANT!!! – An individual organism can not evolve A group (like a species or a population) can evolve

Sexual Reproduction create genetic variety. How does this help an organism evolve to be better adapted to its environment?

5) Living things obtain and use energy for metabolic processes

Cell Respiration The process ALL living things use to turn food into useable energy NOT the same as breathing

What do we need energy for? Digestion Heartbeat and circulating blood Movement Breathing Sending and receiving nerve impulses Growth Reproduction Obtaining/Making Food Getting rid of waste Maintaining Stable internal temperature Maintaining stable internal pH

How do we get the food that is broken down for energy during cell respiration? Autotrophs Some organisms can make their own food They make food in a process called photosynthesis Includes all plants, some protists and some bacteria

How do we get the food that is broken down for energy during cell respiration? Heterotrophs Organisms that can’t make their own food must eat or absorb it from other organisms Includes all animals, fungi, some protists and some bacteria

IMPORTANT… SOME organisms can go through photosynthesis ALL organisms go through cellular respiration

What would happen if metabolic processes stopped? We would die

Use the diagram to explain the relationship between photosynthesis and cell respiration C 6 H 12 O 6

6) Living things have a lifespan This means at some point they die

ORGANISMAPPROX LIFESPANORGANISMAPPROX LIFESPAN Bristlecone Pine3,000-4,700 yearsToad36 Redwood1,000-3,500Deer35 Douglas Fir750Cobra28 Galapagos Tortoise193Tiger, Cat25 Giant Tortoise152Bat24 Box Turtle123Cow22 Turkey Buzzard118Queen Ant, Chicken, Sheep15 Swan102Tiger Salamander11 Parrot80Green Frog10 Eleplant69Hummingbird8 Horned Owl68Queen Bee, Gerbil5 Catfish60House Mouse, Hamster, Rat4 Eagle55Most Insects< 1year Horse50Adult Honeybee Workers6 weeks

Why can’t organisms just live forever? Damage to cells and/or tissures and/or organs

7) Organisms respond to their environment

What is the goal of these responses? To maintain Homeostasis What is homeostasis? Maintaining a stable internal environment

The pinch and the ouch Something internal or external that causes an organism to respond Pinch = Stimulus Whatever the organism does in response to the stimuli Ouch = Response

Stimuli can be INTERNAL or EXTERNAL

INTERNAL – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

EXTERNAL – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

INTERNAL – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

EXTERNAL – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

Internal Stimulus When blood glucose level rises, the pancreas secretes insulin hormone into the blood. Insulin enhances the transport of glucose into body cells and stimulates the liver and muscle cells to store glucose as glycogen. When blood glucose level drops, the pancreas secretes the hormone glucagon, which opposes the effect of insulin. Glucagon promotes the breakdown of glycogen in theliver and the release of glucose into the blood, increasing blood glucose level

Internal Stimulus – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

EXTERNAL – What’s the stimulus? What’s the response?

8) Living things are based on a universal genetic code

Codes are read the same way in all organisms (from bacteria to oak trees to elephants)

And now – a little assessment…

The most basic unit of all life is: A.A DNA molecule B.A bacteria C.A Cell D.An Atom

Algae are unicellular protists that live in large colonial groups (millions of cells all living together). A common name for algae is seaweed. Why is algae not considered multicellular? A.It does not move B.It does not perform Cell Respiration C.It does not have DNA D.It does not have cell specialization

A change is size or number of cells would be an example of __?__, while changes in an organisms form would be an example of __?__. A) Growth / Development B) Response / Stimuli C) Development / Growth D) Metabolism / Energy

What creates new traits within a species? A) Introduction of a Predator B) Mutations C) Cell Respiration D) Homeostasis

What will cause an increase in survival? A) Having traits that are well suited to the environment B) Changing your trait because a new one would be really helpful C) Reproduction D) Mutations

What is the ultimate goal of every living thing? A)Having traits that are well suited to the environment B) Changing your trait because a new one would be really helpful C) Reproduction D) Mutations

Which of the following could never happen? A) Having traits that are well suited to the environment B) Changing your trait because a new one would be really helpful C) Reproduction D) Mutations

What causes new traits in ANY living thing? A) Having traits that are well suited to the environment B) Changing your trait because a new one would be really helpful C) Reproduction D) Mutations

Two metabolic processes that can allow living things to obtain and use energy are: A) Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration B) Heterotrophs and Autotrophs C) Inhaling and Exhaling D) Transport and Movement

Some organisms can perform___?___, but ALL organisms must perform ___?___. A) Photosynthesis / Cell Respiration B) Heterotrophs / Autotrophs C) Inhaling / Exhaling D) Cell Respiration / Photosynthesis

You notice that your neighbors dog pants a lot in hot weather. Your neighbor explains that dogs don’t sweat, so they release excess heat by evaporation from the dog’s tongue while panting. The dog is maintaining what as a result of this behavior? A) Nutrition B) Homeostasis C) Responses to the environment D) Reproduction

A teacher suddenly turns on all the lights after her powerpoint presentation. The pupils in her students’ eyes quickly contract. In this scenario, the lights is the __?__ and the change in pupil shape is the __?__. A) response / response B) stimulus / response C) response / stimulus D) stimulus / stimulus