Characteristics of Living Things!

Biology 137

What is biology?

• Let’s break it down…– bios = “life”

– ology = “study of”

• So…Biology = Study of life

Important questions we need to answer…

• Important questions we need to answer…– A fire grows and gives off energy, is it alive? Why or why not?

– What do you think characterizes life?

• IMPORTANT IDEA…– Although a nonliving thing may exhibit some of these

characteristics, unless it has ALL characteristics it is NOT a living thing.

All living things …• Made of Cells (orderly structure)• Reproduce (offspring)• Grow• Develop• Use energy• Respond to changes in environment• Adapt and Evolve (change over time)• Maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis)

A thing that possesses all characteristics of a living thing is called an organism.

Living things are organized.

• All living things are made of one or more cells!– Cells are the basic unit of all living things.– Cells and DNA function in an orderly system to

control the organisms’ life processes.

Living things make more living things.

• Reproduction—have offspring– It is essential for the continuation of the

species.

Living things change during their lives.

• Two types of change– Growth= a change in size– Development = all of the changes that take

place during the life of an organism

• Babies grow and develop. Can you give examples of each?

• Growth – • Development-

Label each picture as either growth or development?

Living things adjust to their surroundings.

• Environment– Includes air, water, temperature, and other

organisms in the area

• Any condition in the environment that requires an organism to adjust is a STIMULUS.

• A reaction to a stimulus is a RESPONSE.

How is this picture an example of response?

Name the stimulus. Name the response.

Living things adjust to their surroundings.

• Organisms must maintain homeostasis– keep a constant, stable internal environment

Living things require and use energy.

• All organisms must take in materials and energy to grow, develop and reproduce

• Metabolism – combination of

chemical reactions through

which an organism builds up

or breaks down materials

Living things adapt and evolve.

• ADAPTATION– Any change in response to a stimulus that enables an

organism to better survive in an environment

– Adaptations are inherited from past generations

– Ex.

• EVOLUTION– The gradual accumulations of adaptations over time

Important idea!

• Although a nonliving thing may exhibit some of these characteristics, unless it has ALL characteristics it is NOT a living thing.

1-3 Characteristics of Living Things QUIZ

An increase in size is known as

a. growth.

b. metabolism.

c. development.d. differentiation.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living things?

a. use of energy

b. made of cells

c. stable internal environment

d. need for oxygen

1-3 Characteristics of Living Things QUIZ

Which of the following are branches in the study of biology?

a. cells, tissues, organs, and organisms

b. botany, cell biology, ecology, and zoology

c. populations, communities, and ecosystems

d. the genetic code, evolution, and the biosphere

1-3 Characteristics of Living Things QUIZ

The genetic code is carried in

a.water.

b. DNA.

c. proteins.

d. soil.

1-3 Characteristics of Living Things QUIZ