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Characteristics of Life
What does it mean to be alive?
What common characteristics of
all of these tell you that they are
alive?
Egg
Plant
You
Frog
Characteristics of Life
Growth and development
Change in shape and size
Reproduction – necessary
for species to survive.
Characteristics of Life
Energy to carry out
life’s processes
Cells smallest unit
of life – all living
things have cells
Characteristics of Life
Adaptation through
evolution – changes that
allow the organism to
survive and can be passed
on to subsequent
generations
Response to stimulus respond to environment
(positively or negatively)
Characteristics of Life
Maintain Homeostasis
Internal Stable state
Ex: Body temp, Blood
content, pH balance,
water balance, heart rate,
etc
Characteristics of Life
Organization – degree
of order within and
around the individual
that allows life to exist.
Levels of complexity
Smallest level of
complexity – ATOM
Highest level BIOSPHERE
Atom Smallest unit of an element that still retains
the element’s properties. Electrons, protons, and
neutrons are its building blocks. This hydrogen atom’s electron
zips around a proton in a spherical volume of space.
Molecule
Two or more joined atoms
of the same or different
elements. “Molecules of life” are
complex carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
DNA, and RNA.
Fig. 1-1b, p.4
Cell
Smallest unit of life
that can live and
reproduce on its
own or as part of a
multi-celled
organism. It has an outer
membrane, DNA, and
other components.
Fig. 1-1c, p.4
Tissue
Group of cells
that carry out a
specific Many
cells (white)
made this bone tissue
from their own
secretions.
Fig. 1-1d, p.4
Organ
Structural unit made of two or more tissues
interacting in some task. A parrotfish eye is a sensory
organ used in vision.
Fig. 1-1e, p.5
Organ system
Organs interacting physically, chemically, or both
in some task. Parrotfish skin is an integumentary system with tissue
layers, organs such as glands, and other parts.
Fig. 1-1f, p.5
Organism
Individual made of many different of system.
Cells of most multicelled
organisms, including this Red Sea parrotfish, are organized as tissues,
organs, and organ systems.
Fig. 1-1g, p.5
Population
Group of single-celled or multicelled
individuals of the same species occupying a
specified area. This is a fish population in the Red Sea.
Fig. 1-1h, p.5
Community
All populations of all
species
occupying a specified
area.
This is part of a coral reef
in the Gulf of Aqaba at the
northern end of the Red Sea.
Fig. 1-1i, p.5
Ecosystem
A community that is
interacting with
its physical
environment. It has
inputs
and outputs of
energy and
materials.
Reef ecosystems flourish in
warm, clear
seawater throughout the Middle
East.
Fig. 1-1j, p.5
The Biosphere
All regions of the Earth’s waters, crust, and
atmosphere that hold organisms. In the vast universe, Earth
is a rare planet. Without its abundance of free-flowing water, there would be
no life.
Fig. 1-1k, p.5