Download Chemistry Of Living Organisms

Characteristics of
Life
What is alive
• Organisms
include:
bacteria, plants,
animals, fungi, &
protist
• Does not include
viruses.
– Viruses are not
cells.
– Virsues are
proteins and
nucleic acids
Ebola virus: Referred to as a
hemorrhagic virus because it causes
hemorrhages in its victims.
All organisms are composed of cells
– Cells are the basic
unit of structure
and function of all
living things
– Organisms are:
Unicellular
Multicellular
Organization
• Living things are
all highly
organized.
– Organisms take
substances from
environment and
organize them in
complex ways.
Cross section of a root showing root hairs
on the outer surface.
Energy use
•
Energy is used to
maintain
organization.
• Metabolism: Sum
of all chemistry/
energy in a living
thing.
Pair share: what does this bird uses
energy for.
Cardinal
Homeostasis
• Maintaining a
steady
internal
environment.
– External
environment
is always
changing.
Pair share: what does your body
do to maintain homeostasis.
Baby Sea Lion
Growth
• All living
organisms
grow.
– Growth occurs
by cell division
and cell
enlargement
Bacteria dividing after growth
stage.
Reproduction
• All species of
organisms are capable
of reproducing.
– Reproduction is
essential to the
species but not the
individual.
– Reproduction is the
transfer of genetic
material from
generation to the next
White board: What happens to a
species if they do not reproduce?
White board Review
1. Entropy is the natural tendency towards
disorder. What do living things do that
counters entropy?
2. What is the chemistry/ energy use of
living things called?
3. Why are viruses not alive?