Biology & The

Characteristicsof Life

The study of _____.

I. What is BIOLOGY?

life

Biological principles are daily being applied for the ______________ - in controlling disease, improving health, developing better foods, conserving natural resources and understanding our environment.

What is the value of Biology?

benefit of man

Industry, agriculture, government, and the medical profession provide unlimited _______________________ to young people with a biological background.

Students find that biology offers many interesting and rewarding _______ as well as giving them a better understanding of themselves and a greater ____________ of the living things that surround them.

Why do we study Biology?

vocational opportunities

hobbiesappreciation

Biology students should be ____________ and use careful judgment. A healthy _________; belief in cause and effect, and order in nature is imperative.

How do we study Biology?

open-minded

curiosity

1. How would you define the word LIFE to a young child?

Answer the following questions:

A CELL

2. What is the basic unit of life?

3. Do you believe there IS life elsewhere in the universe?

Explain your answer

3. List some activities of living things.

Characteristicsof Living Things

_____ = basic unit of structure and function of all living things.

Unicellular – bacterium, paramecium, amoeba

Multicellular – humans, snakes, plants, etc.

1. Made of one or more _____:

cells

Cell

Each organized structure in an organism has a specific ________.Ex: an anteater’s snout functions as a container for its long tongue.

All parts form an _______ functioning unit.

2. Displays Organization

function

orderly

Species must replace themselves.

Is _____ necessary for the survival of the ___________ organism; it is needed for the survival of the _______!

3. Reproduces

NOTindividual

species

Living things grow because their CELLS grow and divide!

_______ = the increase in living material (cellular mass) and the formation of new structures.

____________ = the changes that take place during the life of the organism.

4. Grows and Develops

Growth

Development

_________ = a condition in the environment that creates a response from the organism. Ex: temperature, weather, other

organisms, etc.

_________ = the reaction to a stimulus Critical for the safety and ________ of an

organism!

5. Responds to Stiumuli:Stimulus

Responsesurvival

Ex: _________ = shark smells blood in the water; _________ = shark moves quickly toward the blood and attacks any organism present.

Stimulus Response

_______ = the ability to do work or to make things move.Powers life processesMaintains ____________,

_______, ____________, and __________.

Obtained from the ______ they eat.(Plants make their own!)

6. Requires Energy:

Energy

homeostasisgrowth reproduction

movementFOOD

Main source of energy for all life is the ____

Energy not only flows through the organism, but also through the community.

Sun

____________ = the regulation of an organism’s internal environment to maintain conditions that allow it to live. Ex: Human’s _________ and __________, help

the body maintain its proper ____________ - regulated by the hypothalamus.

Ex: ______________ of the blood is regulated by hormones.

7. Maintains Homeostasis:

Homeostasis

sweating shiveringtemperature

pH regulation

Ex: ________ regulation for nerve and muscle function – regulated by the kidneys and intestine.

Ex: _____________ balance – regulated by the pancreas/insulin

Ex: ______ balance – regulated via food/water intake and waste elimination.

Calcium

Blood glucose

Water

Long hind legs enable rabbits to quickly avoid predators; fur to _________ body temperature; changing fur color for different seasons.

___________ = are structures, behaviors, or internal processes that enable an organism to respond to stimuli. Structure and behavior examples:

8. Adaptations Evolve Over Time

Adaptations

regulate

Internal stimuli examples:______ balance, ____ balance

and _________.

Salt

Water

infections

__________Motion vs. Locomotion – what is the difference?

Motion = ___________________Locomotion = ______________ _______________________________

Movement

movement/gesturesThe ability

tomove or travel from place to place

1. EnergyMain source of energy → _____Plants get energy directly from the sun.

_____________ get energy from dead animals and plants.

Animals get energy from eating ______ or an organism that eats plants.

IV. Basic Needs of Life:

SUN

Decomposers

plants

2. Water, Oxygen and MineralsMost organisms need _______ in order to survive.

Living things are made up of about ____ water.

IV. Basic Needs of Life:

WATER

70%