1. Studying Life

2. Characteristics of Living Things
Does a Fire give off energy?
Does a Fire fly (lightning bug) give off energy?
Are they both Alive?
What makes something alive?

3. Characteristic’s continued…
Living things share several characteristics.
These characteristics include the following:
(There are 8 Characteristics!)

4. 1. Living things are made up of Cells
A cell is a collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates the cell from its surroundings.
A single cell is called “unicellular”.
Many cells would be named “multicellular”

5. 2. Living Things Reproduce
All organisms produce new organisms.
Asexually —single parent. Dividing in half to produce another organism.
Sexually —two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell of the new organism.

6. 3. Living Things are based on a Universal Genetic Code
Offspring always resemble their parents.
With sexual reproduction, offspring differ in some ways.
However, dogs must produce dogs, cats must produce cats and flies produce flies. The genetic code of each is what is produced.

7. 4. Living things Grow and Develop
Life Cycles
Life cycle of a butterfly—egg—caterpillar—pupa (chrysalis)—adult butterfly
Life cycle of a fly—egg—maggot—adult fly
All living organisms grow at least part of their lives.

8. 5. Living things obtain and use materials and energy
As organisms grow, they need energy and materials to survive.
What is an example of materials?
Metabolism —The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes.

9. 6. Living things respond to their Environment
Organisms live in constantly changing environments.
Examples:
Temperature, Light, Smells, Sounds

10. 7. Living things maintain a stable internal environment
Changes that happen in organisms are complex.
Example: a plant may take on water through roots at one point but give water off at another through leaves (transpire).
The internal consistency is called Homeostasis. (process in which organisms keep their internal conditions stable)

11. Examples of Homeostasis:
1. Plants transpire: give off water
2. Humans perspire/sweat to cool off
3. The hormone insulin is used by the body to keep blood sugar level
4. Dogs pant to cool off

12. 8. Living things change over time.
Key words—as a group, living things evolve, or change over time.
Example: Plants that can survive periods without water. These plants had to “change over time” to survive without water at certain dry periods.

13. Characteristics of Life
Fire is NOT alive
Bacteria IS alive
Rocks are NOT alive
Fungus IS alive
Viruses are NOT alive

14. Viruses
Viruses are NOT considered alive because they can not reproduce on their own.
They must use cells from other organisms to reproduce

15. Branches of Biology
The order in which Biology is branched, starting from smallest to most broad would be:
Molecules (Smallest)
Cells
Groups of cells
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere (Most Broad/Largest)

16. Levels of Organization
(Largest)
Biosphere
The part of Earth that contains all ecosystems
Biosphere
Community and its nonliving surroundings
Ecosystem
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air
Populations that live together in a defined area
Community
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass
Group of organisms of one type that live in the same area
Population
Bison herd

17. Levels of Organization
Individual living
thing
Organism
Bison
Groups of
Cells
Tissues, organs, and organ systems
Nervous tissue
Brain
Nervous system
Smallest functional
unit of life
Cells
Nerve cell
Groups of atoms;
smallest unit of
most chemical
compounds
Molecules
Water
DNA
(Smallest)

18. The End