Title: HOW TO DEFINE LIFE
1HOW TO DEFINE LIFE
2Is 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 cells
machinery So....is the Ebola virus a living
thing? What do you think?
3How do you know something is alive?
- Biology means the study of (-ology) all life
(bio-) and includes many branches
4How do you know something is alive?
- Biologists organize living things into kingdoms.
There are currently six kingdoms.
5How 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
6CHARACTERISTICS 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
7CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- ENERGY USE
- Organisms need energy constantly to build
molecules (synthesis) and cell and to break down
(digest) substances (such as breaking down food
for nutrition)
8Fill It In
9CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- ENERGY USE
- Organisms must transport nutrients to be used in
cellular respiration to produce energy
10CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- ENERGY USE
- An organisms chemical reactions are called its
metabolism
11CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- REPRODUCTION
- An organism must replace themselves so the entire
species will survive
12CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- REPRODUCTION
- May be asexual (only one individual contributes
genetic material) or sexual (two individuals
contribute genes)
13CHARACTERISTICS 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
14CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- RESPOND TO STIMULI
- A quick, non-permanent change
- Stimulus - anything that causes an organism to
react - Example a loud noise (stimulus) causes your
dog to run under the bed (response)
15CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- ADJUST TO ENVIRONMENT
- Homeostasis - the regulation of an organisms
internal environment to maintain conditions for
life - Ex Getting rid of wastes by excretion
16CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE LIFE PROCESSES
- ADJUST TO ENVIRONMENT
- An adaptation is an inherited structure,
behavior, or internal process that enables
organisms to better survive an environment - Ex Gills on a fish
17Fill It In
- Life Processes (things you do)
- S-
- T-
- E-
- R-
- N-
- G-
- R-
- R-
18Fill It In
- Life Processes (things you do)
- S- synthesis
- T- transport
- E- excretion
- R- regulation
- N- nutrition
- G- growth development
- R- reproduce
- R- respond to stimuli
19Something extra
- Characteristics of Life (things you have)
- C-
- H-
- R-
- E-
- G-
- L-
- E-
- R-
20Something extra
- Characteristics of Life (things you have)
- C- cells
- H- homeostasis
- R- reproduction
- E- energy
- G- genetic material (DNA)
- L- levels of organization
- E- evolve
- R- respiration
21Check 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
___________________
22Check 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
___________________
23Check 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
___________________
24Check 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
___________________
25Check 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
___________________
26Check 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__