1. Biology & Characteristics of Life 1.1

2. Biology = the study of life
Organism = any individual living thing

3. Biosphere: everywhere life exists Biodiversity: variety of life
-- increases from poles to equator
-- is greater near the equator

4. What is a species? Group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring ** It is possible, in some cases, to breed different species of organisms and produce offspring, but the offspring may be infertile.

5. + =
Horse Donkey Mule
(fertile) (fertile) (infertile)

6. Characteristics of Living Things:
All living things are made of small units called cells
Organisms may be:
- Unicellular—made of only one cell
- Multicellular—made of many cells

7. 2) All living things reproduce
2 Types:
Asexual—involves only one parent cell
Sexual—involves 2 parent cells called sperm & egg

8. 3) All living things respond and adapt to their environment
2 Types of adaptations:
Short-term—dog shedding hair in summer
Long-term—evolutionary change; thumbs

9. 4) All living things need energy
Metabolism—total of all chemical reactions that take place in an organism

10. 5) All living things grow & develop
Growth—increase in size only
Development—internal changes that organisms undergo as they grow.

11. 6) All living things maintain homeostasis
Homeostasis: maintenance of constant internal conditions in an organism

12. 7) All living organisms contain genetic information (DNA)
Genes are made of DNA.
The traits that we have come from our genes.
Offspring resemble their parents.

13. Review:
Can you list the 7 characteristics that all living things have in common?

14. Unifying Themes in Biology 1.2

15. There are many different branches of biology:

16. An ecosystem includes living and nonliving things that interact
1) Systems
System: Related parts interact to form a whole
Ex. Cells  tissues  organs  organ systems  organisms
An ecosystem includes living and nonliving things that interact

17. 2) Structure & Function
Function is related to and dependent upon structure.
Examples:
~ cell structure- red blood cells are small enough to fit through blood vessels
~ anatomical structure- feet designed for walking

18. 3) Homeostasis
Stable internal conditions are maintained through automatic responses and through behavior
-Ex. Temperature regulation:

19. 4) Evolution
Evolution: gradual change in genetic makeup of a population of a species
Occurs through adaptations: beneficial traits that are passed on to future generations
orchid
Thorn
bug