Characteristics of life

Characteristics of Living Things

• Biologists have formulated a list of characteristics by which we can recognize living things

Living Things

• What are some examples of living things?

-Animals Plants

●What about these things?Rocks, bicycles, books

All living things share some basic properties.All living things share some basic properties.

Cellular OrganizationCellular Organization

ReproductionReproduction

Metabolism (Obtain and Use Energy)Metabolism (Obtain and Use Energy)

HomeostasisHomeostasis

HeredityHeredity

ResponsivenessResponsiveness

Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development

Adapt Through EvolutionAdapt Through Evolution

Unicellular OrganismsUnicellular OrganismsEntire organism is made Entire organism is made up of one single cellup of one single cell

Bacteria and protistsBacteria and protists

Cells are basic structural units of life. Smallest unit capable of all life functions. Cells are basic structural units of life. Smallest unit capable of all life functions. Cells are the building blocks of all organisms = living things. Cells are the building blocks of all organisms = living things.

Two types of cells are:Two types of cells are:Multicellular OrganismsMulticellular Organisms

The organism is made up of The organism is made up of many cellsmany cells

Cells have specialized Cells have specialized functions within the organismfunctions within the organism

Cells

UniCellular

MultiCellular

Reproduction is the process of producing new organisms Reproduction is the process of producing new organisms of the same type. of the same type. Two types of reproductionTwo types of reproduction

Asexual ReproductionAsexual Reproduction

A single parent A single parent organism reproducing by organism reproducing by itselfitself

Sexual ReproductionSexual ReproductionTwo different parent Two different parent organisms contribute genetic organisms contribute genetic information information

Involves the combination Involves the combination of male and female sex cellsof male and female sex cells

Asexual

Sexual: a new genetic combination

Living organisms need energy to grow, Living organisms need energy to grow, develop, repair damage, and reproducedevelop, repair damage, and reproduce

AnabolismAnabolism

The process of building up complex substances The process of building up complex substances from simpler substancesfrom simpler substances

Building up cells and cellular components

Photosynthesis

CatabolismCatabolism

The process of breaking down complex The process of breaking down complex substances into simpler substances to release substances into simpler substances to release energyenergy

DigestionDigestion

Cellular RespirationCellular Respiration

MetabolismMetabolism

The total of all chemical reactions in The total of all chemical reactions in an organisman organism Anabolism + Catabolism = MetabolismAnabolism + Catabolism = Metabolism

A stable state of conditions in the body that A stable state of conditions in the body that are necessary for lifeare necessary for life

Body temperatureBody temperature

Blood volumeBlood volume

pH balancepH balance

Water balanceWater balance

Stable Interior

Even though exterior conditions are changing

Genes carry hereditary information

Genes are composed of DNA

Heredity is the reason children resemble their parents

Mutations change DNA code and can be passed from generation to generation

Organisms react to stimuli:Organisms react to stimuli:

LightLight

TemperatureTemperature

OdorOdor

Sound Sound

GravityGravity

HeatHeat

WaterWater

PressurePressure

An example is a plant’s An example is a plant’s leaves and stems growing leaves and stems growing toward lighttoward light

Growth means to get bigger in sizeGrowth means to get bigger in size

Development involves a change in the Development involves a change in the physical form or physiological make-up of physical form or physiological make-up of an organisman organism- An example would be how a

frog is conceived and born.

- A frog begins as a single cell in a fertilized egg and then grows into a tadpole and eventually into a fully grown frog.

Development

AdaptationAdaptation

A process that enables A process that enables organisms to become better organisms to become better suited to their environmentsuited to their environment

Species obtain adaptations Species obtain adaptations through through evolutionevolution over great over great periods of timeperiods of time

An Example of AdaptationAn Example of Adaptation

Desert plants have succulent waxy leaves and Desert plants have succulent waxy leaves and stems to store water and reduce water lossstems to store water and reduce water loss

Living things adapt and evolve

Resources

http://www.firstschoolyears.com/science/resources/games/ourselves/living/living.htm (sorting)

http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.lp_living/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMBJZLEwFs&feature=related (movie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM_CgOgJGG0&feature=fvw (movie w/ song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ2FI50oecs&feature=related (note and voice)