The Characteristics of Living Things

The Characteristics of Living Things

The Characteristics of Living Things

The Characteristics of Living Things

• Great Complexity & Organization• Composed of Cells• Reproduction & Development• Mechanism for Inheritance• Metabolism & Homeostasis• Interaction with the Environment• Evolution (Adaptation)

–Living things are made of the same materials as everything else in the universe

• are assembled into molecules

• Living things are more organized , more

complex

–Living things require energy to carry out life processes

Great Complexity and Organization

• Atoms• Molecules• Organelles• Cells• Tissues• Organs• Organ Systems• Organisms• Populations• Communities• Ecosystems• Biosphere

AtomsAtoms

proton

neutron

electron

hydrogenatom

heliumatom

carbonatom

1p, 0n, 1e- 2p, 2n, 2e- 6p, 6n, 6e-

Some ElementsSome Elements

• Water (H2O)

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Molecular Oxygen (O2)

• Ammonium (NH3)

• Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

• Water (H2O)

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Molecular Oxygen (O2)

• Ammonium (NH3)

• Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Simple Inorganic MoleculesSimple Inorganic Molecules

Categories:

Lipids

Proteins Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

Biological CompoundsBiological Compounds

Simple Sugars

(e.g., glucose: C6H12O6)

Amino Acids

(e.g., glycine: C2H5O2N)

Nucleotide Bases

(e.g., adenine: C5H5N4)

Simple Sugars

(e.g., glucose: C6H12O6)

Amino Acids

(e.g., glycine: C2H5O2N)

Nucleotide Bases

(e.g., adenine: C5H5N4)

Organic Building Block Molecules

Organic Building Block Molecules

Cell OrganellesCell Organelles

mitochondria

smooth ER

nucleus

golgi

rough ER

CellsCells

OsteocyteNerve cell

Blood cell Muscle cell

Levels of Body OrganizationLevels of Body Organization

OrganismsOrganisms

PopulationsPopulations

CommunitiesCommunities

Ecosystems

Ecosystems

The BiosphereThe Biosphere

carbonatom

organ system

DNA molecule

organelle celltissue

organ

organismpopulationcommunity

ecosystem

biosphere

Prokaryotic CellProkaryotic Cell

Eukaryotic Animal CellEukaryotic Animal Cell

Eukaryotic Plant CellEukaryotic Plant Cell

Classification: Six kingdom system:

Eubacteria

Protista

Fungi

Plantae

Animalia

Archaebacteria

E. coli Cyanobacteria

Paramecium Diatom Slime mold

Asexual ReproductionAsexual Reproduction

Coral polyp budding

Sexual ReproductionSexual Reproduction

Both Sexual & Asexual

DevelopmentDevelopment

DNADNA

Contains information for almost all cell

activities

The sum total of the chemical processes that occur in living organisms, resulting in growth, production of energy, elimination of waste material, etc.

• Anabolism- build up of complex molecules

• Catabolism- break down of complex molecules

Metabolism

Cellular RespirationCellular Respiration

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6H2O + 6CO2 + energyC6H12O6 + 6O2 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

6H2O + 6CO2 + light C6H12O6 + 6O26H2O + 6CO2 + light C6H12O6 + 6O2

Autotrophs• Organisms that make their own food (like plants,

some protists, and some bacteria)• Plants capture energy from the sun, use water

and carbon dioxide to make sugars and starches

Photosynthesis Chemosynthesis

Heterotrophs• Organisms that take

in food to meet their energy needs

• Animals must consume autotrophs (plants), and other heterotrophs to meet their energy needs

Is a Coral a Heterotroph or Autotroph?

HomeostasisHomeostasis

1. Maintenance of constant internal conditions in varying environments

2. Adaptation of organisms to specific environments

HomeostasisHomeostasis

Three big problems

1. Obtaining energy and nutrients

2. Maintaining temperature

3. Obtaining and holding onto water

Body Temperature Regulation

Temperature ControlTemperature ControlEctotherms (Poikilotherms)Ectotherms (Poikilotherms)

• Generate body heat metabolically, but Generate body heat metabolically, but cannot maintain constant internal body cannot maintain constant internal body temperaturetemperature

• Body temperature mimics the Body temperature mimics the surrounding environmentsurrounding environment

Most ectotherms regulate their body temperature by

• basking

• moving between shade/sun

• being active at certain times of day

EctothermsEctotherms

Temperature ControlTemperature ControlEndotherms (homeothermic)Endotherms (homeothermic)

• Generate body heat metabolically and Generate body heat metabolically and body temperature does not match the body temperature does not match the temperature of the surrounding temperature of the surrounding environmentenvironment

• These organisms retain metabolic heat These organisms retain metabolic heat and can control metabolism to maintain and can control metabolism to maintain a constant internal temperaturea constant internal temperature

–Living things interact with each other and with the environment

–Ecology – the study of these interactions• Hawaiian Monk seals eat fish• Humans eat fish• What if something happened to the

fish?

Interaction with the environment

Interaction with the EnvironmentInteraction with the Environment

EvolutionEvolutionChange in the genetic

composition of a population through time

Change in the genetic composition of a population

through time

• Inherited change in the characteristics of organisms over time

• Living things are slowly changing• Process of natural selection results in

change over time• Organisms with favorable genes are

more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those favorable genes

EvolutionEvolution

Mechanisms Contributing to Evolutionary Change

Mechanisms Contributing to Evolutionary Change

• Production of heritable variations• Natural Selection• Chance

• Production of heritable variations• Natural Selection• Chance

• Transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring

• Instructions from parent to offspring are passed on in the form of genes

HeredityHeredity

Heritable variations

Blood type

Dwarfism

Beak Depth

Banding pattern

Eye color

AdaptationsAdaptationsThe structural, functional, and behavioral features that contribute to the success of a species.

Natural SelectionNatural Selection

Peppered Moths: study in England 1800’s More light than dark moths• Industrial pollution turned trees dark• Population shifted to mostly dark moths

Peppered Moth Exercisehttp://www.techapps.net/interactives/pepperMoths.swf

Natural SelectionNatural Selection

Inquiry1. Define:Homeostasis, photoautotroph, chemoautotroph, heterotroph

2. What is a group of different organisms living in the same geographic are called?

3. What 3 features do plant cells have that animal cells don’t?

4. Which 4 elements make up living things?

5. What is the equation for photosynthesis?