what defines life? what are the characteristics of life? all living things, including plants,...

What Defines Life?

What are the Characteristics of Life?

All living things, including plants, animals, insects, bacteria, etc… exhibit seven characteristics that are used to define what is Alive from what is not.

Unit 1: Life What is Life?


There are 7 Characteristics of Life

Living things respond to stimuli

Living things obtain and use energy

Living things are organized

Living things develop & grow

Living things can reproduce

Living things can adapt

Living things are made of cells

C A R G O E S


Living things are made of cellsUnicellularUnicellular

• Uni = One

• Living organism that exist only as one single cell.

• They do not contain tissues, organs, or organ systems

Multicellular

• Multi = Many

• Living organism that contain more than one cell.

• These cells require further organization to complete the more complex organism.

Simple & Complex Unicellular OrganismsSimple & Complex Unicellular Organisms

Amoeba

Yeast

Simple Unicellular OrganismsSimple Unicellular Organisms Complex Unicellular OrganismsComplex Unicellular Organisms

E. coliParamecium










C A R G O E S

Adaptation - An inherited behavior or characteristic (passed on through genes from generation to generation)

that enables an organism to better survive in their environment. Ultimately, this allows them a better chance

to reproduce and pass those traits onto their offspring.


Over time, adaptations are modified by natural natural selectionselection.

Note: If the sand changed to a white color… this guy would be a lot less camouflaged!!!


The Great Misconception!!!The Great Misconception!!!

• There is a great difference between adaptationadaptation and acclimationacclimation.

– Adaptation occurs over many generations as certain traits/characteristics are passed on from parents to subsequent offspring; it is a gradual process caused by natural selection.

– Acclimation generally occurs within a single lifetime and deals with the idea of an organism adjusting to their environment using only the traits and characteristics they already possess.

This is not an example of how a human would adapt to walking long

distances!!!

• Humans, Cheetahs, Whales, & Bats all share similar bone structures in their limbs.

• But the shape, organization, and design of their limbs best suits the particular needs of each species.

• Each organism has a limb structure that shows how each species has adapted over many generations so that they are best suited to their particular environment.

Your Turn… Are the following examples of Acclimation or Adaptation???

1. A man moves from a cold environment to the desert. Pretty soon he does not find the environment very hot.

2. You get sent to a new country which always serves really spicy food. You adapt/acclimate to the spicy food?

3. An antelope in Africa has a white belly and a tanned colored back to help them cope with the harsh temperatures and blistering sun.










C A R G O E S

Living organisms must be able to create new living organisms thereby passing along their inheritable genetic characteristics.

• This can occur by sexual reproduction.

• This can occur by asexual reproduction.












C A R G O E S



*** There are two components to this characteristic:*** There are two components to this characteristic:

GrowthGrowth

• Organism can grow when their cells increase in size or mass

• Organism can grow when their cells increase in number

DevelopDevelop

• Development is different from growth

• Organisms develop when their cells change shape or form.

Growth vs. DevelopmentGrowth vs. Development

Organism or cells increase in size & mass

GrowthGrowth

Organism increases in the number of cells

During the 40 weeks that a female human is pregnant, there is significant

development that occurs in the baby.

DevelopmentDevelopment










C A R G O E S



Living things are not designed haphazardly. Everything within their design is the result of purposeful organization. This leads to a vital concept:

““Form Fits Function”Form Fits Function”

Organization is consistent throughout the biological world and occurs from the smallest of atoms up through the entire planet.



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BiologicalBiological organization










C A R G O E S



Many organisms must first seek out food, eat the food, break the food down into simpler molecules such as the sugar glucose and then convert that glucose into energy.

Other living organisms cannot actively seek out food (such as a plant) and therefore instead they must first produce their own food mainly through the process of photosynthesis to create molecules such as glucose, then only once the glucose is made can they then convert that glucose into energy.

• PlantsPlants and certain species of bacteriabacteria, protistsprotists, and algaealgae undergo photosynthesis to make glucose– Water + Carbon Dioxide sunlight Glucose + Oxygen

– 6 H2O + 6 CO2 sunlight C6H12O6 + 6 O2

• Animals eat food to obtain glucose– Eat Food Chemically Digest Food Glucose

– Eat Food Chemically Digest Food C6H12O6

• Both Plants & Animals take that glucose and convert it into energy in a process called cellular respiration– Glucose + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy– C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + Energy



PhotosynthesisConvert Sunlight Into

Food to make Glucose

Catch/Eat/Consume Food & Chemically Digest it into Glucose

Plants & certain Bacteria, Protists, & Algae

AnimalsConvert GlucoseInto Energy (ATP)

GlucoseC6H12O6

Sunlight Oxygen O2

WaterH2O

Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants and certain species of bacteria, protists, and algae

convert solar energy into the food source glucose.

Carbon Dioxide

CO2

~ Organelle Involved with Cellular Respiration ~

GlucoseC6H12O6

OxygenO2

Carbon Dioxide CO2

WaterH2O

EnergyATP

Mitochondria

Cellular Respiration is the process whereby ALL living organisms convert

glucose into usable energy stored as ATP.

Photosynthesis

(Plants, certain

Bacteria, Protists,

& Algae)

Animals Eat Food










C A R G O E S



A stimulus is: An agent, action, or condition that elicits or accelerates a physiological or psychological activity or response.

Loud unexpected noise You flinch

Smell freshly cooked pizza Your mouth waters

Blood in water Shark smells/tastes and swims to it

You touch a hot stove Pull finger off quickly

Your Turn Your Turn

“Put your Hands UP Mister!!!”

“This is FUN!!!!”

“Need Water!!!”

Question: Which of the 7 Characteristics of Life are not necessarily required by any one specific individual but are characteristics that are vital in ensuring the survival of the entire species of that

organism?



what defines life? what are the characteristics of life? all living things, including plants,...

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energyliving things

stimuliliving things

growliving things

organizedliving things

living organism

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particular environment

cold environment