HOW TO DEFINE LIFE

Is Ebola a living thing? Most people have heard of Ebola –

a deadly VIRUS that is affecting people in parts of Africa.

Viruses: Have DNA..... but no cellular structure Can reproduce.....but only with a host Use energy.... but this comes from the host cell’s machinery

So....is the Ebola virus a living thing? What do you think?

How do you know something is alive?

Biology means the study of (-ology) all life (bio-) and includes many branches

How do you know something is alive?

Biologists organize living things into kingdoms. There are currently six kingdoms.

How do you know something is alive?

Kingdom Example

Archaebacteria Extremophile bacteria

Eubacteria Typical bacteria

Protista Seaweed, Amoeba, Slime Mold

Fungi Yeast, Mushrooms

Plantae Moss, Fern, Holly, Oak Tree

Animalia Worms, Fish, Birds, Frogs, Humans

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ORGANIZATION The level of complexity All living things need six essential

elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus,

and Sulfur (CHNOPS) All living things are made cells

One-celled organism - unicellular Many-celled organism -

multicellular

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ENERGY USEOrganisms need energy

constantly to build molecules (synthesis) and cell and to break down (digest) substances (such as breaking down food for nutrition)

Fill It In …Synthesis means ….

Visual:

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ENERGY USEOrganisms must transport

nutrients to be used in cellular respiration to produce energy

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ENERGY USEAn organism’s chemical

reactions are called its metabolism

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

REPRODUCTIONAn organism must replace

themselves so the entire species will survive

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

REPRODUCTIONMay be asexual (only one

individual contributes genetic material) or sexual (two individuals contribute genes)

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Growth - to increase in size.

Increases the number of cells of a multicellular organism

Development - change that takes place in structure and function of an organism during its life cycle. Example: embryo becomes a fetus

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

RESPOND TO STIMULIA quick, non-permanent

changeStimulus - anything that

causes an organism to react

Example: a loud noise (stimulus) causes your dog to run under the bed (response)

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ADJUST TO ENVIRONMENTHomeostasis - the

regulation of an organism’s internal environment to maintain conditions for life

Ex: Getting rid of wastes by excretion

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES

ADJUST TO ENVIRONMENTAn adaptation is an

inherited structure, behavior, or internal process that enables organisms to better survive an environment

Ex: Gills on a fish

Fill It In …

Life Processes: (things you do)S-T-E-R-N-G-R-R-

Fill It In …

Life Processes: (things you do)S- synthesisT- transportE- excretionR- regulationN- nutritionG- growth & developmentR- reproduceR- respond to stimuli

Something extra …Characteristics of Life: (things you have)C-H-R-E-G-L-E-R-

Something extra …Characteristics of Life: (things you have)C- cellsH- homeostasisR- reproductionE- energyG- genetic material (DNA)L- levels of organizationE- evolveR- respiration

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a ___________. What are two reasons an organism needs energy?

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird __________________ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove ___________________

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? CELL A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a ___________. What are two reasons an organism needs energy?

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird __________________ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove ___________________

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? CELL A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a _TISSUE_. What are two reasons an organism needs energy?

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird __________________ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove ___________________

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? CELL A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a _TISSUE_. What are two reasons an organism needs energy? SYTHESIS, DIGESTION, TRANSPORT, METABOLISM

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird __________________ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove ___________________

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? CELL A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a _TISSUE_. What are two reasons an organism needs energy? SYTHESIS, DIGESTION, TRANSPORT, METABOLISM

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird ADAPTATION_ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove ___________________

Check Yourself! What is the basic unit of life? CELL A group of cells that perform a similar function are known

as a _TISSUE_. What are two reasons an organism needs energy? SYTHESIS, DIGESTION, TRANSPORT, METABOLISM

Label the following an an adaptation or a response to a stimulus The hollow bones of a bird ADAPTATION_ Jerking your hand away from a hot stove _RESPONSE TO STIMULUS__