Characteristics of Life

Vocabulary : Make Flash Cards Respiration Aerobic Anaerobic Cells Metabolism Synthesis Homeostasis Organic Inorganic Autotroph Heterotroph

Opening Activity = Set up your flashcard fronts for these 11 vocabulary words.

Do the definitions on the back, for homework

Definitions

Respiration: Getting energy from food.

Aerobic: Using oxygen. Anaerobic: Lacking oxygen. Cells: Living matter enclosed

by a barrier. The basic unit of life.

More Definitions Metabolism: Chemical reactions that

break down or build up materials to support life.

Synthesis: Making complex molecules from less complex molecules.

Homeostasis: Keeping internal and external conditions balanced. (Thermostat on a furnace – Shivering produces heat)

Organic or Inorganic? Organic means that something

has the element carbon in it. Living things have carbon and so they are considered organic.

Inorganic: Nonliving things, generally lack carbon and are considered inorganic. The one exception is carbon dioxide it is inorganic and contains carbon

Autotroph and Heterotroph Autotrophs produce their own food. Heterotrophs ingest their food.

These methods both provide an organism with the necessary nutrients to live.

Assimilation: is how these nutrients become part of the organism.

8 Characteristics of Life

1. Made of One or More Cells

2. Reproduce

3. Based on Genetic Code (DNA)

4. Grow and Develop

5. Obtain and Use Nutrients and Energy

6. Respond to Environment

7. Maintain Stable Internal Environment

8. Evolve or Change Over Time

1. Made of One or More Cells

A cell is a living unit enclosed by a barrier called a membrane

Unicellular = 1 cell

Multicellular= More than one cell

Some cells are specialized and have specific jobs.

Cells can grow, reproduce and respond to environment

1. Made of One or More Cells

a.) CELL: Collection of living material enclosed within a barrier

b.) cells are basic unit of life

c.) Unicellular: made up of one cell

d.) Multicellular: made up of many cells

Unicellular

Multicellular

2. Reproduce

Sexual – cells from 2 different parents unite to form the first cell of the new organism

Asexual – One parent can divide or bud to form two organisms that are identical

Reproduction = produce offspring which resemble parents

a.) asexual reproduction: has only one parent

b.) sexual reproduction: requires two parents

Asexual

Sexual

3. Based on Genetic Code Inherited traits

are carried by DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid

Asexual reproduction provides one set of traits

Sexual reproduction combines the traits of 2 parents

4. Grow and Develop Growth – Increase

in size. Multicellular and unicellular organisms grow

Develop – Changes in shape and structure

Lifespan – How long an organism lives

Life Cycle – Staged of development

4. Grow and Develop

a.) GROWTH: increase in size & shape

b.) DEVELOPMENT: mature over time

c.) living things have a lifespanGrowth

Development

5. Obtain and Use Nutrients and Energy

Chemical reactions called metabolism require energy

All organisms take in materials to provide the energy

Sunlight provides energy for producers or autotrophs

Food provides the energy for consumers or heterotrophs

5. Living Things Use & Need Energy

a.) energy comes from food, used to maintain body b.) AUTOTROPH: produce own food c.) HETEROTROPH: must consume food d.) DECOMPOSER: breaks down dead material for food

6. Respond to Environment

Responds to a stimulus or signal

External =light, temperature, gravity

Internal = Blood sugar, CO

6. Respond to their Environment

a.) React to a stimulus

b.) An action causes a reaction

c. ) A reaction is called a response

d.) This involves one individual

7. Maintain Stable Internal Environment

Homeostasis- keeping internal conditions balanced to survive

Examples: temperature and water

How? Feedback mechanisms, like a thermostat on a furnace

7. Living things maintain a stable internal environment

a.) HOMEOSTASIS: internal balance

b.) examples: sweating, panting, shivering, etc.

8. Evolve and Change Over Time

Individuals may experience many changes in their life span but their basic traits are the same.

As a group a species will change over time and the general traits will be different.

8. Evolve and change over time

a.) adapt to long-range changes in environment

b.) change to better survive in environment

c.) these changes take place over a long period of time & involve the entire species

Quiz 2: The following are all examples of the characteristics of life. Identify each one.

A. Adapt D. genetic code G. Respond to stimulus

B. Made of cells E. Grow and develop H. Homeostasis

C. Reproduce F. Use/need energy1. You eat a hamburger for lunch.

2. A baby gains 3 pounds in one week and begins to recognize voices.

3. A polar bear has white fur to blend in with the snow.

4. Your start to cry whenever you get a shot at the doctor’s office.

5. You begin to shiver because it is cold outside.

6. Red and white particles make up part of your blood.

7. A chick breaks out of an egg.

Levels of Organization

Individual Population Community Ecosystem Biome

Individual The same species

can breed and have fertile offspring

Population Many of the same

species living in a specific place

Community The

popuations of living organisms that are found in specific area

Ecosystems The Biotic and

Abiotic factors found in a given area

Biome A group of

ecosystems within a certain climate containing specific dominant species.

Biology is the study of_____

Biology is the study of_____

The living world.

Is photosynthesis required to be considered a living thing?

Is photosynthesis required to be considered a living thing?

NO

Specialized cells allow cells to____________

Specialized cells allow cells to____________

Perform different functions

What is Homeostasis?

What is Homeostasis?

Homeostasis is the process of keeping internal conditions stable.

Name two things that are stimuli.

Name two things that are stimuli.

Light Temperature

What is metabolism?

What is metabolism?

Chemical processes in your body like building up or breaking down nutrients

Describe two ways organisms might respond to environment.

Describe ways organisms might respond to environment.

Shivering in the cold Birds fly south Pupils constrict when exposed

to light Cells shrink when exposed to

salt water Trees drop their leaves in the

autumn

To be in a community you must live_______

To be in a community you must live_______

You must live in the same area. You cannot be located on the

other side of the river or in a distant part of the forest.

How would you know if something were a living organism?

How would you know if something were a living organism?

Made of One or More Cells Reproduce Based on Genetic Code (DNA) Grow and Develop Obtain and Use Nutrients and Energy Respond to Environment Maintain Stable Internal

Environment Evolve or Change Over Time