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Exploring LIFE
 Biology
– The study of Life

What does it mean to be ALIVE?

How do you know if something is ALIVE?
Is Fire ALIVE?
All living things share some basic properties
 Seven Characteristics of Life
 M  Metabolism
 R  Respond to Stimuli
 G  Growth & Development
 R  Reproduction
 E  Evolve & Adapt
 C  Composed of cells (+1)
 H  Homeostasis
All living organisms obtain & use energy
to grow, develop, repair damage, and
reproduce
1. PRODUCERS:
- Plants and other photosynthetic organisms
- Produce their own food (from CO2, H2O, & the sun)
upon which the entire ecosystem depends
2. CONSUMERS:
- Animals:
Obtain nutrients and energy from consuming the food made by
producers
Anabolism
Process of building up complex substances from
simpler substances
 Building up cells and cellular components
 Photosynthesis
Catabolism
Process of breaking down
complex substances into
simpler substances to
release energy
 Digestion
 Cellular Respiration
Metabolism
All chemical reactions occurring
within an organism
 Anabolism + Catabolism = Metabolism
Organisms react to stimuli:
Light
Temperature
Odor
Sound
Gravity
Heat
Water
Pressure
Example: A plant’s leaves
and stems grow toward light
ALL
ORGANISMS
GROW &
DEVELOP
Growth means to get bigger in size
Development involves a change in the
physical form or physiological make-up of
an organism
Reproduction is the process of producing new
organisms of the same type
Asexual Reproduction
A single parent organism reproducing by itself
Sexual Reproduction
Two different parent organisms contribute genetic
information
Involves the combination of male and female sex
cells
Genes carry hereditary information
Genes are composed of DNA
Heredity is the reason children resemble their parents
Mutations change
DNA code and can be
passed from
generation to
generation
 While
looking for the unity of life processes
 Recognize the great diversity of
appearance and behavior of species on
this Earth


Species differ greatly in their adaptations to
the many distinct environments on Earth
Both the unity and diversity of organisms can
be explained by the mechanisms of evolution
Adaptation
A process that enables
organisms to become better
suited to their environment
 Species obtain adaptations
through evolution, which
occurs over great periods of
time
An Example of Adaptation
Desert plants have succulent waxy leaves and
stems to store water and reduce water loss
 Living

organisms
Consist of organic molecules  organized to
form cells
• Cells  Life’s basic units of structure and function

Composed of one or more cells
Smallest unit capable of all life functions
Unicellular Organisms
 Entire organism is made up of one single cell
 Bacteria and protists
Multicellular Organisms
 The organism is made up of
many cells
 Cells have specialized functions
within the organism
A stable state of conditions in the body that
are necessary for life
 Body temperature
 Blood volume
 pH balance
 Water balance
Homeostasis:
Ability of an organism to maintain relatively
constant internal conditions
* Example: Temperature regulation in the human
body
All organ systems contribute to homeostasis
All living things share 7 basic properties 
Seven Characteristics of Life
 M  Metabolism
 R  Respond to Stimuli
 G  Growth & Development
 R  Reproduction
 E  Evolve & Adapt
 C  Composed of cells (+1)
 H  Homeostasis
* Disclaimer: This powerpoint presentation is a compilation of various works.