1. WARM UP 8/29/14 True or False? – answer in notebook
If it moves it is alive
If it seems to move by itself, it’s alive; if it’s moved by something else, it’s not alive.
If it makes light or noise it is alive
It’s not alive unless it is doing something
To be alive, it must breathe
Not all living things grow
Bacteria and fungi are not living things
Plants have a completely different kind of life than animals

2. Characteristics of Living Things
What is Life?
Define life?
Is this a living thing? an organism?
Origin?...
Spontaneous generation/abiogensis
or biogenesis?

3. No one definitive list:
Organized
Reproduce
Responds to stimuli
Requires water and energy
Adaptation
Grow and Develop
Maintain homeostasis

4. Organization One or more cells –unicellular, multicellular
Cells contain DNA molecules = heredity
Common set of compounds –organic molecules = carbon & hydrogen
Simple to complex – at all levels
Maintain and repair structure
organs
organ systems
tissues
organisms
cells
populations
compounds
communities
molecules
ecosystems
atoms
biosphere

5. Reproduction Marks a successful life Continues the species
Group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Pass on genes / DNA
Sexual and/or asexual

6. Respond to stimuli Possess “irritability” – able to respond
Stimulus must be strong enough to elicit a response
Must respond to environmental stimuli to survive and/or reproduce
Homeostasis – maintain internal conditions or environment
By internal feedback systems – communicate

7. ENERGY REQUIRED Ultimate source is the sun
To maintain other characteristics and stay alive;
Must be obtained – ingested or absorbed; converted to a usable form
May be transformed and transferred but never created or destroyed
Respiration – exchange gases with environment
Require water for chemical reactions
METABOLISM –sum of all chemical reactions and energy exchange within an organism
Anabolic reactions – build up; simple >> complex
Catabolic reactions – break down; complex >> simple

8. Change over time Growth – increase in size
Develop – change in abilities; + / -
Die – limited lifespans

9. Adaptation
Inherited structure, behavior or internal process that enables organism to respond to environmental factors and live successfully
Only an adaptation if inheritable
Must match environment
Gradual accumulation of adaptations result in evolution
Result of mutation – not intentional
Must be able to be passed along
Able to move in some manner to meet needs

10. All living things…
Have every characteristic at some time in their life
Similar in the variety of processes they carry out
May be in a state of dormancy
Individual does not have to reproduce to survive – but species must!