BiologyWhat is it?

Biology is the study of life.

SO.What does it
mean to be living?

Characteristics of Life
To be considered living, an
organism must..
1. Be based on a universal
genetic code.
DNA
2.

Grow and develop

Characteristics of Life
3.

Be able to Reproduce
-Asexually
-Sexually

4.

Use materials and energy

-Metabolism

Characteristics of Life
5.

Be able to respond to
their environment
-stimulus
response

Humans:

Plants:

Characteristics of Life
6.

Maintain stable internal

environment
-Homeostasis

Characteristics of Life
7.

8.

Change over time, as a group.

-Evolution

Made of units called Cells

-Unicellular
-Multicellular

Cell Theory
Matthias
Schleiden
concluded that all
plants are made of
cells (1838)

Theodore
Schwann
concluded that all
animals are made
of cells (1839)

Rudolf Virchow
concluded that all
cells came from
pre-existing cells
(1855)

Cell Theory

all living things are made up of cells

cells are the basic units of structure and function in
an organism
new cells are produced from existing cells

Levels of Organization
Level

Function

Organism

Single living thing

Organ System

Different organs function

together

Organ

Different tissues function

together

Tissues

Similar cells function

together

Cells

Smallest unit of life

Molecules

Smallest unit of a substance

with the same properties

Atom

Smallest unit of matter

Example
Human
Nervous
System

Brain

Nervous Tissue

Nerve
Cell

Protein

Carbon

VirusesLiving or not?
Now that
Viruses
comewe
in many
shapes and
knowdifferent
what makes
they
cause many
different
something
living,
letsdiseases
look at but,
a they
all have something in common.

virus.

Viruses and Living Cells

Characteristic

Virus

Cell

Structure

Genetic material
surrounded by a
protein capsid

Cell membrane,
cytoplasm; genetic
material, ribosomes

Reproduction

Only within a host cell

Yes, sexually and

asexually

Genetic Code

DNA or RNA

DNA

Growth and
Development

No

Yes

Obtain and Use

Energy

No

Yes

Response to
Environment

No

Yes

Evolve

Yes

Yes

Homeostasis

No

Yes

Verdict?

No, Viruses are not considered a

living thing because they do not
meet all of the living
characteristics.