Lesson Overview

Studying Life

Lesson Overview
1.3 Studying Life

Lesson Overview

Studying Life

Lesson Overview
1.3 Studying Life
I CAN:
1.Explain the eight characteristics that all
living things have in common.
2.Explain what homeostasis is.
3.Give at least one example of homeostasis.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Biology is the study of life. But what is life?
No single characteristic is enough to describe a
living thing. Also, some nonliving things share
one or more traits with organisms.
Some things, such as viruses, exist at the border
between organisms and nonliving things.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

All living things:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

are made up of cells

contain DNA
obtain materials and use energy
grow and develop
reproduce
respond to their environment
maintain a stable internal environment
evolve (as species) over time

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things are made up of one or more cellsthe
smallest units considered fully alive.
Despite their small size, cells are complex and highly
organized.
For example, a single branch of a tree contains millions
of cells.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things are based on a universal genetic code.
All organisms store the complex information they
need to live, grow, and reproduce in a genetic code
written in a molecule called DNA.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things grow and develop.
During development, a single fertilized egg divides
again and again.
As these cells divide, they differentiate, which
means they begin to look different from one another
and to perform different functions.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things respond to their environment.
A stimulus is a signal to which an organism
responds.
For example, some plants can produce unsavory
chemicals to ward off caterpillars that feed on their
leaves.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things reproduce, which means that they produce new similar
organisms.

Asexual Reproduction: process of reproduction

that involves only one parent producing an identical
copy of itself.
Sexual Reproduction: process of reproduction that
involves two parents who donate genetic material for
the offspring.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things maintain a relatively stable internal
environment, even when external conditions change
dramatically.

This condition/process is called homeostasis.

Examples: 1. Maintaining pH
2. Maintaining water balance in cells
3. Maintaining body temperature

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things obtain and use material and energy to
grow, develop, and reproduce.
The combination of chemical reactions through
which an organism builds up or breaks down
materials is called metabolism.
.

For example, leaves obtain energy from the sun and

gases from the air. These materials are then used to
make food and energy available during photosynthesis
and respiration.

Lesson Overview

1-3 Studying Life

Characteristics of Living Things

Over generations, groups of organisms
evolve, or change genetically over time.
Evolutionary change links all forms of life to a
common origin more than 3.5 billion years
ago.