UNIT IINTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

The Nature of LifeLIVING THINGS

• all have CARBON atoms • all living things use energy • have definite shape and

size • have a limited life span • grow • respond to changes in the

environment • reproduce • living things are made of

one or more cells. • all have a metabolism

NONLIVING THINGS• Some nonliving

things have carbon, such as, CO2 (carbon dioxide)& CO (carbon monoxide)

• Don’t use energy

• NAME 4 LIVING THINGS YOU COULD FIND IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

• NAME 5 NON-LIVING THINGS THAT YOU COULD FIND IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW/

So, let’s answer this question: Are viruses living things (a.k.a. organisms)

WHY (or WHY NOT)?????????????????????

They are NOT considered living because viruses CANNOT REPRODUCE ON THEIR OWN

Avian flu

EbolaSimian flu

II. Definition of Life

A.Scientists have been unable to agree upon a single definition of life. This syllabus characterizes life by the functions that living organisms perform.

B. LIFE FUNCTIONS (a.k.a. life processes)

1. Nutrition includes the activities of an organism by which it

obtains materials from its environment and processes them for its use.

a. heterotrophic nutrition - can NOT make own food, consumes other organismsb. autotrophic nutrition -

organisms that have the ability make their own organic food from inorganic material

Understand these two terms:Organic•Compounds/molecules that contain the element CARBON and usually HYDROGEN•Can be found in nature (but can also be synthesized in a lab so don’t rely on “found in nature as your only definition)

Inorganic – compounds that DO NOT CONTAIN CARBON (exceptions: CO, CO2, CCl4)

2. Transport

involves the absorption & distribution (circulation) of materials within an organism.

a. Transport in Heterotrophs b. Transport in Autotrophs

3. Respiration

includes the exchange of gases AND those processes which provide the energy necessary for the maintenance of life functions.

a. Aerobic- releases energy while using oxygen

b. Anaerobic- releases energy without using oxygen

4. Excretion - involves the removal of cellular (metabolic) waste products.5. Synthesis -involves those chemical activities by which large molecules are built from smaller ones.

Ex: 1 egg + 2 cups flour + ¼ cup sugar SYNTHESIS or MAKES (=) 1 cake

++

6. Regulation -

involves the control coordination of the various activities of an organism.7. Growth

involves an increase in cell size and/or cell numbers. The process utilizes the products of

synthesis. 8. Reproduction

involves the production of new individuals. Species survival is dependent upon this life fxn.

a. Sexual - involves 2 parents, offspring contains different genetic material

b. Asexual - only 1 parent, offspring is a clone of parent

9. Immunity - The ability of an organism to resist disease

causing organisms and foreign invaders

C. METABOLISM the sum of all the life activities required to sustain life.

OR

-All the chemical activities that take place in an organism to keep it alive.

These include capturing and transforming energy, building new structures, storing materials, repairing structures, and keeping all chemical activities within an organism working properly.

D. HOMEOSTASIS

in order for an organism’s metabolism to work properly, it must maintain a stable internal environment. This maintenance is known as homeostasis.

• 1.     Define the term Organism.

• A living thing.

• 2.     Name three characteristics of life.

• Highly organized with many complex substances, composed of cells, energy using, having definite form and limited size, having limited life span, able to grow, respond to environment, reproduce, and evolve

• 3.     Which characteristics are found ONLY in living things?

• Highly organized with many complex substances, cellular, definite form and limited size, able to reproduce and evolve

• 4.     Which are found in both living and nonliving things?

• Use energy (machines), grow (crystals), respond to environment (thermostat)

• 5.     What life process involves obtaining material and changing it into useful forms?

• Nutrition

• 6.     Name the process by which organisms release chemical energy from nutrients.

• respiration• 7.     Define the term growth• Increase in size• 8.     What is homeostasis• The condition of a constant internal environment• 9.     How is the transport system in your community (roads,

sidewalks, etc.) similar to the transport system in your body? How do these systems differ?

• roads, sidewalks permit movement of people and materials as part of community’s functioning. Body system transports materials necessary to maintain body. Community system not self-contained; has varying volume of changing materials. Body system self-contained; has fairly constant volume of limited variety of substances

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