Characteristics of Living Things

IN

Headings

Vocabulary

Important Info

What is Biology?

1. The study of living things (organisms)

2. The study of interactions of living things

3. bio-life ology-study of

8 Characteristics of Life

Living Things are:

1. Made up of Cells

o CELL: Collection of living material enclosed within a barrier

o Cells are basic unit of life

o Unicellular: made up of one cell

o Multicellular: made up of many cells

Unicellular

Multicellular

Muscle cell Smooth muscle tissue Stomach Digestive system

Levels of Organization

Go to Section:

*Cells have an orderly structure

*Ex: cells make up tissues, tissues make up organs, and organs make up systems

2. Reproduce:

a.) produce offspring which resemble parents

b.) Asexual Reproduction: has only one parent

c.) Sexual Reproduction: requires two parents

Asexual

Sexual

3. Grow and Develop

a.) GROWTH: increase in size and shape

b.) DEVELOPMENT: mature over time

c.) living things have a lifespan

Growth

Development

4. Livings things are based on a universal genetic code

A. DNA- DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

B. RNA- RiboNucleic Acid

C. determines inherited traits from parents

5. Use/Need Energy

a. Energy comes from food, used to maintain body

b. Autotrophs: produce their own food

c. Heterotrophs: must consume food

d. Decomposers: break down dead material for food

6. Respond to their surroundings

a.) they react to a stimulus

b.) an action causes a reaction

c.) reaction is called a response

d.) this involves one

individual

7. Maintain a stable internal environment

A. Homeostasis- process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

EX: sweating, panting, shivering, etc

Electrolyte is a "medical/scientific" term for salts, specifically ions. The term electrolyte means that this ion is electrically-charged and moves to either a negative (cathode) or positive (anode) electrode: ions that move to the cathode (cations) are positively charged ions that move to the anode (anions) are negatively charged For example, your body fluids -- blood, plasma, interstitial fluid (fluid between cells) -- are like seawater and have a high concentration of sodium chloride (table salt, or NaCl). The electrolytes in sodium chloride are: sodium ion (Na+) - cation chloride ion (Cl-) - anion As for your body, the major electrolytes are as follows: sodium (Na+) magnesium(Mg+)calcium (Ca2+) Potassium (K+) bicarbonate (HCO3

-)

phosphate (PO42-) chloride (Cl-) sulfate (SO4

2-)

8. Evolve

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 involving the entire species

Characteristic ExamplesLiving things are made up of units called cells.Living things reproduce.

Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

Living things grow and develop.

Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

Living things respond to their environment.Living things maintain a stable internal environment.

Taken as a group, living things change over time.

Many microorganisms consist of only a single cell. Animals and trees are multicellular.Maple trees reproduce sexually. A hydra can reproduce asexually by budding.Flies produce flies. Dogs produce dogs. Seeds from maple trees produce maple trees.Flies begin life as eggs, then become maggots, and then become adult flies.Plants obtain their energy from sunlight. Animals obtain their energy from the food they eat.

Leaves and stems of plants grow toward light.

Despite changes in the temperature of the environment, a robin maintains a constant body temperature.

Plants that live in the desert survive because they have become adapted to the conditions of the desert.

Characteristics of Living Things

Go to Section:

So, lets see if you learned anything…

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 energy

1. 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.