1. Biology
The Study of Life

2. Levels of organization.
1. Biosphere
Consist of all parts of the planet that are inhabited by living things (land, water and atmosphere)

3. 2. Ecosystems
The community of living things in an area, along with nonliving features (sun, water, wind, soil)

4. 3. Organisms
Individual living things
Dynamic – Constantly changing.

5. 4. Cells Life’s basic unit of structure and function.
Smallest form of life
Anything beyond the cell is not living

6. 5. Atoms
The basic building blocks of all materials both living and nonliving.
Not living

7. 6.DNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Genetic material
Inheritance
Non living

8. Biology Explores Life at its Many Levels

9. The Characteristics of Living Things
1. Living Things Reproduce
Sexual Reproduction – Cells from two parents unite to form a new organism
Asexual Reproduction – a single organism produces offspring identical to itself.

10. 2. Interaction with the Environment
Respond to environment
Stimulus – a signal to which organism
responds; something that causes a response

11. 3. Use Energy
Moving, growing, reproducing, etc
Food gives us energy
Metabolism – the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

12. Organisms are composed of one or more cells
4. Made of Cells
Organisms are composed of one or more cells
The smallest units considered fully alive.
Cells can grow
Respond to the environment
Despite their small size they are highly organized
Phytoplankton – primary producer in the oceans and provides the majority of oxygen production on Earth

13. Organisms have the ability to regulate their internal conditions
5. Regulation
Organisms have the ability to regulate their internal conditions
Sweating on a warm day
Dogs panting to cool off
Homeostasis – internal stability or “steady state” maintained by the body

14. 6. Adapt and Evolve
Over generations, groups of organisms evolve, or change over time

15. 7. Grow and Develop Grow in size (including cells)
Cells become specialized (skin, liver, nerves, etc)

16. 8. DNA
Universal Code
All organisms store the information they need to live, grow, and reproduce in a genetic code written on a molecule called DNA.
This information is passed from parent to offspring