Download What is an organism?

Characteristics of Living
Organisms
What is an organism?
-any living thing
-There are 7 characteristics that
distinguishes living from nonliving.
All living organisms …….

1. Are made up of one or more
cells.
Cells are the:
basic unit of function
and structure of all living
organisms.
Plus one fungus is
unicellular……
yeast
Unicellular:
-organisms made up
of only one cell.
Bacteria
Protist
Multicellular:
-organisms made up of two
or more cell all working
together.
Fungi
Plants
Animals
Multicellular organisms must
display levels of organization:
CELLS: the basic unit of life
A group of like cells make up :
TISSUES
Layers of like tissues make up :
ORGANS
A group of organs working
together for one purpose is a:
SYSTEM
Examples?
Digestive, Reproductive, Nervous, etc…..
Organism
= a series of organ
systems working
together to create
one individual
(frog)
Species
= group of like
organisms that can
reproduce and produce
a fertile offspring.
(spring peepers)
Population
= group of individuals of the same
species living in one place. ( All the
spring peepers living in Mrs.
O'Neill's pond).
Community
= groups of many different populations
living in one area. ( all the different types of
frogs, fish, turtles and cat tails in Mrs.
O’Neill’s pond).
Ecosystem
= all the different organisms and their
physical environment both biotic and abiotic
Biotic:
bio=
life
-anything alive in the ecosystem
like plants, animals, etc…
Abiotic
a=
bio=
non
life
= anything nonliving like air, water,
soil, etc..
Biosphere
= is the region of our universe where
organisms live (land, air and water).
What’s the difference between the man
and the rock?
Man
-made up
of cells and
displays all
levels of
organization.
Rocks
-not made up of
cells. Made up of
only atoms and
molecules
All living organisms……
2. Must be able to successfully
reproduce.
-Reproduce means
to make more organisms .
-This trait pertains to the species
and NOT to an individual.
2 types of reproduction:
1. Asexual Reproduction:
A
= not
Sexual
= well you know what that
means...
-Asexual reproduction is when
one organism divides into two
new organisms.
-It produces new organisms
that are genetically identical.
-clones
Binary Fission
Genetically
identical to
each other
and to….
Examples include: Bacteria, protist, some fungi,
some plants and some animals.
Which are clones?
Planarians
Budding
Hydras
Rooting
a plant
clipping
in water
Strawberry Plants
2. Sexual Reproduction:
-Requires two things
-sperm
-egg
-Produces organisms that are
genetically different.
23
23
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Zygote

In most species it requires two different
organisms to reproduce

Few species are hermaphrodites
 One organisms has the ability to produce both
sperm and egg


Most flowering plants
Sponges
Some organisms can reproduce both
sexually and asexually.
Can you think of any???
2 types of Sexual Reproductin
Internal Fertilization:
verses
External Fertilization
Internal Fertilization:
-sperm and egg meet:
inside the females body
-offspring remain inside the mother or
inside a hard shell and are protected.
Internal Fertilization
Examples:
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Plants
External Fertilization:
Sperm and egg are released into water and
randomly come together by chance.
Offspring develop on their own, many ending up
as a prey or as “fish food”
Fish
External Fertilization
Frogs
3. All living organisms must be able
to grow and develop.
Grow:
to get bigger by the increase
in the number of cells.
Develop:
to change in form.
Growth and
development may
occur at the same
time.
4. All living organisms must
obtain and use energy
-need energy to do everything
-grow, develop, reproduce…..even sleep.
Why do babies sleep
so much????
Ways to get food:
Heterotrophs:
Hetero =
different
trophs =
to nourish
-organisms that get energy by consuming other
organisms.
Examples of who is heterotrophic:
-some bacteria
-some protist
-all fungi
-all animals
Autotrophs:
-organisms which
make their own food through
the process of
Photosynthesis
Auto =
self operating
trophs =
to nourish
Examples of who is Autotrophic?
-some bacteria
-some protist
-all plants
What do all these
organisms have in
common that make
them successful at
photosynthesis?
-all green
-all contain
chlorophyll
Metabolism
Is the sum total of ALL chemical reactions that occur
within a cell/a living organism. It includes the:
Breaking down the food
Using the food for energy
and to make new cells.
Heterotrophs can be:
Herbivores:
-plant eaters
Carnivores:
-meat eaters
Omnivores:
-eats both plants and animals
Decomposers / Saprophytes:
-breaks down once living matter into useable
molecules
5. All living organisms must adapt to
their environment. (adaptions occur over long pd
of time/evolve in a species)
Camouflaging
WHY?
Survival…………..
Chameleons
Snowshoe
rabbit in the
winter and
summer.
Organisms that are best adapted to their
environment are the ones who survived
and reproduced. (Survival of the fittest)
-leading cause of evolution
-slow, gradual change over time
Survival of the fittest
6. All living organisms must be able to
respond to their environment.
(immediate response)
WHY?
Survival…………………….
STIMULUS
coldness
heat
no food
light
RESPONSE
Humans shiver
Humans
sweat
Birds
fluff up
their feathers
Dogs
Dogs
get pant
a thick coat of fur
Alligators move into the water
Birds migrate south
Plants grow towards the light
7. All living organisms must be able to
display some form of homeostasis.
Homo =
same
Heart beat/pulse
Blood pressure
stasis =
Water balance
stationary
Body temperature
Homeostasis is the ability to maintain
stable and constant internal conditions.
All living organisms must display
homeostasis but it may be by
different means and to different
degrees…
Example:
Blood sugar rises  body senses change  pancreas
secretes insulin into blood  insulin effectively lowers
the blood sugar level by moving sugar into the cells.
Once blood sugar levels reach homeostasis the pancreas
stops releasing insulin
If a person can not perform this negative feedback loop
then what is wrong with the person?
-
Example:
Blood vessel is damaged  platelets cling to injured
site and release chemicals to attract more platelets 
platelets continue to pile up and release these chemicals
until a clot is formed.
Homeostasis happens in all
organisms, even plants.
Plants need to regulate:
-water loss
-CO2 intake