Part 6: Organisms

What is Life? Brainstorm: What do all living things have in common?

What is Life? There is no simple way to define life.

What is Life? There is no simple way to define life. So scientists have a list of criteria that describe its characteristics.

What is Life? There is no simple way to define life. So scientists have a list of criteria that describe its characteristics. Scientists call these criteria, the Characteristics of Life.

Characteristics of Life All living things: Are made up of one or more cells Contain hereditary information and reproduce Obtain and use energy Grow and develop Respond Maintain homeostasis Adapt

Made up of one or more cells Characteristic 1 Made up of one or more cells

Characteristic 1: Made up of one or more cells Cells: smallest unit of life

Characteristic 1: Made up of one or more cells Cells: smallest unit of life Two types of organisms: Unicellular Multi-Cellular

Characteristic 1: Made up of one or more cells Cells: smallest unit of life Unicellular Organisms: Single-celled organism (i.e. the organism is just one cell.) Examples: Bacteria Protists (euglena and amoeba) Fungi (Yeast)

Characteristic 1: Made up of one or more cells Cells: smallest unit of life Multi-cellular Organisms: organisms made up of more than one cell Examples: Animals Plants

Contain hereditary (genetic) information and reproduce Characteristic 2 Contain hereditary (genetic) information and reproduce

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth Reproduction: production of new organisms

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth Reproduction: production of new organisms - Sexual:

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth Reproduction: production of new organisms - Sexual: - Asexual:

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth Reproduction: production of new organisms - Sexual: two cells from two parents fuse to form new individual - Asexual:

Characteristic 2: Genes and Reproduction Genetic Code: DNA/RNA Determines inherited traits of every organism on earth Reproduction: production of new organisms - Sexual: two cells from two parents fuse to form new individual - Asexual: new organism forms from a single parent

Characteristic 3 Obtain and Use energy

Characteristic 3: Obtain and Use Energy Metabolism: ALL of the chemical reactions in an organism that allows them to obtain and use energy.

Characteristic 4 Grow and Develop

Characteristic 4: Grow and Develop Two types of Growth: 1. Results in an increase in size of the organism

Characteristic 4: Grow and Develop Two types of Growth: 1. Results in an increase in size of the organism 2. Results in no increase in size of the organism

Characteristic 4: Grow and Develop Two types of Growth: 1. Results in an increase in size of the organism - addition/creation of new cells - already existing cells get larger (muscle cells) 2. Results in no increase in size of the organism

Characteristic 4: Grow and Develop Two types of Growth: 1. Results in an increase in size of the organism - addition/creation of new cells - already existing cells get larger (muscle cells) 2. Results in no increase in size of the organism - Repair/Replacement of damaged or old/worn out cells

Characteristic 5 Responsiveness

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur:

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment Process those changes/ Make a decision

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment Process those changes/ Make a decision Respond

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment - Sense Organs 2. Process those changes/ Make a decision 3. Respond

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment - Sense Organs 2. Process those changes/ Make a decision - Brain 3. Respond

Characteristic 5: Responsiveness Three things must occur: Sense changes in the environment - Sense Organs 2. Process those changes/ Make a decision - Brain 3. Respond - Muscles/Glands

Maintain a Stable Internal Environment Characteristic 6 Maintain a Stable Internal Environment

Characteristic 6: Maintain a Stable Internal Environment Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to keep a constant internal environment, DESPITE their constantly changing environment.

Characteristic 6: Maintain a Stable Internal Environment Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to keep a constant internal environment, DESPITE their constantly changing environment. Examples: Shivering and Sweating

Characteristic 7 Adaptation

Characteristic 7: Adaptation Adaptations are traits giving an organism an advantage in a certain environment.

Characteristic 7: Adaptation Adaptations are traits giving an organism an advantage in a certain environment. Change over time is necessary to the survival of species in a world that is always changing.

Characteristic 7: Adaptation Adaptations are traits giving an organism an advantage in a certain environment. Change over time is necessary to the survival of species in a world that is always changing. Examples: Camouflage and Mimicry

Camouflage Camouflage: See vocab wk 5

Mimicry Mimicry: See vocab wk 5