What Is Biology?

Chapter 1

Biology Bio- life

-ology the study of

Biology - THE STUDY OF LIFE

What is LIFE? What is LIVING?

Scientists conclude that

a group of things is

living if, at sometime,

the members of the

group meet ALL of the

7 characteristics of life.

- What are some living things?

- What are some non-living things?

What is an ORGANISM?

Any living thing

Living, Non-living & Dead Living-

Meet ALL 7 characteristics of life.

Non-living-

Do not meet ALL 7 characteristics of life.

Dead (once living)-

At one time, met ALL 7 characteristics of life.

What are the 7 Characteristics Of Life?

Organisms are organized.

Organisms maintain homeostasis.

Organisms metabolize.

Organisms respond to their surroundings.

Organisms make more living things.

Organisms pass traits to offspring.

Organisms grow and develop.

1. Organisms are ORGANIZED

Have order - an orderly structure.

Specialized parts do specific jobs, but they all work together.

Individual cells are also organized; each part doing a special job.

Example:

The human body is organized:

Cells>Tissues>Organs>Organ Systems>Organisms

2. Maintain HOMEOSTASIS

Homeo-

the same

Homeostasis

Maintenance of internal environment;

maintaining a constant balance or equilibriumExample: Sweating or shivering to maintain a constant body

temperature.

3. Organisms METABOLIZE. Organisms need power (energy) to perform life functions.

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions carried out by the organism.

Autotroph- “self-feeder”

An organism that has the ability to obtain energy from sunlight or inorganic substances and produce its own food supply.

Energy source- sunlight

Examples- plants

Heterotroph- “other-feeder”

An organism that must get its energy from food sources.

Energy sources- chemicals, other organisms, decaying matter

Examples- animals, fungus

4. Organisms RESPOND to their

surroundings.

Response to a stimulus

Adjusting to a change in the environmentExample: Squinting in the sunlight

Usually temporary

Adaptation

Any structure or behavior that increases an

organism’s chance of survival.

Example: a shell on a turtle

5. Organisms MAKE more living

things.

Reproduction: making more of the species;

producing offspring.

Organisms can only come from other

organisms.

If organisms did not reproduce, the species

would go extinct.

Asexual Vs. Sexual ReproductionA-= no, without

Asexual= without sex

The creation of offspring from

one parent. Produces an

offspring with no genetic

variation; exactly the same as

the parent.

Bacteria, Planarians, Cells

Sexual = with sex

The creation of offspring from

two parents. Produces an

offspring with genetic

variation.

Requires fertilization of an egg

by a sperm.

6. Organisms PASS on their

traits. (Heredity)

Parents pass their traits onto offspring.

Inherited characteristics change over time.

This can lead to evolution.

7. Organisms CHANGE during their

lives.

Growth & Development

Growth: Cells get larger and more numerous.

Organisms develop more/different structures.

Organisms will experience many physical

changes throughout the life cycle.