Characteristics of Life

All living things…

…no matter how different from each other they may be…

…share a set of common characteristics.

Inquiry Activity – What makes something alive?

Before we begin, let’s take a moment to explore what makes something alive. Why do we consider blood or leaves to be living or biotic, but a set of keys to be abiotic or not alive? What characteristics do all living things have in common?

Inquiry Activity – What makes something alive?

In this activity, you will rotate around the room and examine the specimens in the jars. As you explore, keep a list of characteristics that help you to classify the organism as biotic or “alive.”Be prepared to share your ideaswith the class.

Six Characteristics of Living Things

1. Composed of cells.2. Have complex organization patterns 3. Use energy.4. Have stable internal conditions.5. Grow and change.6. Reproduce.

1. All Living Things are Composed of Cells

Two types of cells:1. Prokaryotic Cells

- Most are single - celled organisms that do not have DNA housed in the nucleus

2. Eukaryotic Cells- Single or multicellular organisms with DNA stored within the nucleus

Prokaryotic Cell

Eukaryotic Cell

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2. Complex Organization Patterns

• Atomic Level• Molecular Level• Organelle Level/

Cellular Level• Tissue Level• Organ and Organ

System Levels

2. Complex Organization Patterns

• Organism Level• Population Level

– Group of same species• Community Level

– Groups of different species

• Ecosystem Level– Living and non-living

elements– Cycling of Matter and

Energy• Biosphere Level

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Which level of organization is represented here?

Ecosystem

3. All Organisms use EnergySunlight

Producers (plants and other

photosynthetic organisms that make their own food

for energy)

Consumers (including animals, that “eat” or consume food

for energy)

Chemical Energy

Heat

Heat

3. All Organisms use Energy

Transfers of matter and energy through the ecosystem can be shown through a diagram called a food web.

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Let’s watch a video about Biomes and the ecosystems that make them up.

Consider the following guiding questions as we watch. We will watch it twice. (pages 22-23). Jot down your ideas as you watch.

- Exactly, what is a system? Try to define it. - What are some abiotic vs. biotic components within

these systems? How do they interact? Why are they necessary for life?

- What happens to matter within a system? How does matter move through the abiotic and biotic components?

- Can matter within a system be lost or destroyed?Back to Menu

Exploring Organic Building Blocks

• Pages 24-27 of your intNB• First complete pages 24 and 25. You will need

an iPad for question 3, on page 25.• When complete, your teacher will guide you

through the next series of activities using the following image of an aquatic ecosystem.

4. All organisms have stable internal conditions which must be maintained in order to remain alive. This is

called homeostasis.

37⁰CAcceptable Range

Brrr…. Shiver… I am so cold!

Feedback Loops & Homeostasis

• Negative feedback loop – a stimulus triggers a response from the body that eventually reduces the stimulus.

• Positive feedback loop – a stimulus triggers a response from the body that increases the stimulus.

Homeostasis Activity

How would you design an experiment to test the homeostatic activity of your eye? We will brainstorm in groups.

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5. All organisms grow and change.

a. Changes occur during the life cycle of an organism.

b. Some changes are inherited, which over time are called __________.adaptations

5a. Changes occur during an organism’s lifetime (video)

• Differentiation: The process by which cells become increasingly different and specialized

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Consider the following:

Each human cell has 46 strands of DNA

Each cell has the exact same genetic make-up.

Why, then, does differentiation occur? (Why are there so many different types of cells?)

…Discuss…

5b. Organisms Adapt Back to Menu

• The inheritance of adaptations over time is evolution.

6. All organisms reproduce

1. Some organisms reproduce sexually.

2. Some organisms reproduce ________.asexually

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(not sexually)