Biology The Study of Life Recognizing lifes characteristics and the methods used to study life provide a basis for understanding the living world. Click here to copy and Paste a picture of a Butterfly here.

Principles of Biology Living things do not exist in isolation; they are all functioning parts in the delicate balance of nature. All living things depend upon other living and nonliving things in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Leaves of this insect-eating pitcher plant form a tube lined with downward-pointing hairs that prevent insects form escaping. Trapped insects fall into a pool of water and digestive juices at the bottom of the tube. Click here to get photo Copy and paste the Picture of the Pitcher plant here

The Diversity of Life The study of biology will reveal the great diversity of species on Earth and the way each species fits into the dynamic pattern of life on our planet. Click HERE to explore a multitude of diverse organisms.HERE Click here to copy and paste the animal collage picture found here.

Characteristics of Life Organization Homeostasis Reproduction Growth and Development Response to a Stimulus Organisms in nature possess unique features that allow biologists to identify them as living rather than nonliving. They are as follows:

#1 Organization All living things are organized into Cells Unicellular - one celled organisms. Ex. Paramecium, amoeba, stentor Multicellular – more than one cell. Ex. Humans, sponges Cells are not found in nonliving things. The five slides that follow are examples of unicellular organisms Click here to copy a Scanning Electron micrograph of the common soil bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. And paste it here

Click here to copy and paste a Paramecium image here.

Click here to copy and paste a picture of Stentor here

Click here to copy and paste A picture of an amoeba here

Click here to copy and paste a picture Of a vorticella here

Click here to get a picture of Closterium

Organisms may be Multicellular Follow this link and click Follow this link and click on Go in the right column for a real video clip that shows an animation of a multicellular sponge's filtration process Click here to copy and paste A picture of two macaws. Click to copy and paste the picture Of an eel here

#2 Homeostasis Regulate external and internal conditions. Get energy from food. Use Energy Click HERE to see a demonstration of hypothermia.

Ability to Reproduce Reproduction - is the ability to produce a new organism of the same type. It is not essential for the survival of an individual organism, but it is essential for the continuation of a species (a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in nature). Asexual - One cell splits into two new cells. Ex. Paramecium, sponges, strawberry runner, spider plants and other simple organisms usually undergo asexual reproduction. There are two classifications of reproduction: Asexual and Sexual

Click here to copy and paste A picture of paramecium Undergoing fission

Reproduction Sexual Reproduction - two different cells join to form one new individual. New individual is different from either parent. Fertilization - union of the egg and sperm. Zygote - new cell formed as a result of fertilization. Most complex organisms reproduce in this way.

Click here to copy and paste A picture of an ovum Click here to copy and paste A picture of sperm

Growth and Development Two Basic Kinds of Growth: Increasing the number of cells. Increasing the size of the cells. Development: cycle of changes living things go through as they grow. Aging process - part of cycle. Death - end of the cycle.

Respond to Environment Stimulus - a change in the environment –Ex. light shines in eyes. Response - reaction to the change. –Ex. pupils get smaller. Vital to any organism –Escape predators –Find food –Move to light –Move away from toxins –Find a mate Click here to copy and paste A diagram of human eyes

Importance of Biology Recognizing lifes characteristics and the methods used to study life provide a basis for understanding the living world. Click here to copy and paste a picture Of a Clown fish, anemone and shrimp