Biology

Biology – The study of LIFE!

Anything considered alive share the following 7 characteristics

1. Cells All living things are

made of one or more cells

The cell is the basic structure of all living things

2. Reproduction

All living organisms reproduce

Sexual reproduction creates genetic variation

Asexual reproduction creates exact copies

3. Metabolism

Metabolism - All the chemical reactions that create and use energy to run all living processes

Plants capture the energy of the sun and convert it to food

All other organisms eat the plants or they eat the animals that eat the plants

4. Homeostasis

Homeostasis – maintaining a stable internal environment in spite of external changes

Balancing internal conditions with external conditions

5. Heredity

Passing on characteristics to the next generation

Genes carried on DNA are passed from parent to offspring

6. Evolution

Changes in the traits of species over time

Individuals with the best traits for their environment will survive and pass on their genes to the next generation

7. Interdependence The interaction of

living organisms with each other and with their environment

Dependence on one another and the ecosystem