Introduction to Biology and Life

ScienceMrs. Margreiter

What is Biology?Bio

Life……ology

The study ofSo Biology is

The science that uses scientific method to study living things.

Why is Biology Important?

Helps us to understand and care for our bodies.

Helps us understand our environment.

Helps us understand the resources we consume.

Helps us understand potential threats in our environment.

What are Living Things?It is difficult to describe living

things.No single characteristic is enough

to describe a living thing. Some nonliving things share the

traits of living things.Living describes things that are

both alive or have ever been alive.

http://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.alive/is-it-alive/

Icicle Cell River Seed Cloud Clock Coral Fire Bubbles Chick Cars Jellyfish

Is it a Living Thing?

What are Living Things? Most living things share the following

characteristics:Living things are made up of units called cells.Living things reproduce.Living things are based on a universal genetic

code.Living things grow and develop.Living things obtain and use materials and

energy.Living things respond to their environment.Living things maintain a stable internal

environment.As a group, Living things change over time.

Living things are made up of units called cells.

A cell is the smallest unit of an organism that can be considered alive.

To see most cells you need a microscope. Living things may be

Unicellular- they are made up of a single cell. (bacteria)

Multicellular- composed of many cells. (humans)

Living things reproduce. All living things have the ability produce new

living things. Most plants and animals engage in sexual

reproduction to reproduce. Many single celled organisms and some plants

reproduce using Asexual reproduction. Sexual Reproduction- Cells from two different

parents unite to form the first cells of the new organism.

Asexual Reproduction- A single parent produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

The Genetic code is DNA. DNA stores complex information that is needed to

live, grow and reproduce.

Living things grow and develop.

Every living thing uses energy to form a pattern of growth and development.Growth is the process of becoming larger.Development is the process of change that

produces more complex cells.Multicellular organisms cells divide and to preform

different functions.

Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

All living things take in materials and energy to grow and develop.

Autotrophs- are organism that make their own food.Example: Plants capture the suns energy along

with carbon dioxide and water to make their own food.

Heterotrophs- organisms that cannot make their own food.Heterotrophs eat autotrophs or other heterotrophs

that eat autotrophs.

Living things respond to their environment.

Organisms detect and respond to stimuli in their environment.Stimulus- Is a change in an organism surrounding

that cause a reaction.Example: A plant bending toward the sun.

Screaming or jumping when you are startled.

Living things maintain a stable internal environment.

Outside conditions may change dramatically but the internal conditions of an organism stay relatively the same. This is called homeostasis.

As a group, Living things change over time.

The basic traits that an individual organism inherits usually do not change. But over many years and generations groups of

organisms typically change, this is evolution.