1.3-Studying Life
Biology Honors
8/29/13
1.3- Studying Life
I.
Characteristics of Living Things: What characteristics do all living things share?
■ Biology is the study of life
■ Living things are made up of basic units called cells are based on a universal genetic code obtain and use materials and energy grow and develop reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a stable internal environment and change over time
1. Living things are based on a universal genetic code
a) All organisms sore the complex information they need to live, grow and reproduce in a genetic code written in a molecule called DNA.
b) That information is copied and passed from parent to offspring
c) With a few minor variations, life’s genetic code is almost identical in every organism on
Earth
2. Living things grow and develop
a) Every organism has a particular pattern of growth and development
b) During development, a single fertilized egg divides again and again
c) As these cells divide they differentiate which means they begin to look different from one another and to perform different functions
3. Living things respond to their environment
a) Organisms detect and respond to stimuli from their environment
b) A stimulus is a signal to which an organism responds
4. Living things reproduce
a) All organisms reproduce, which means that they produce new similar organisms
b) Most plants and animals engage in sexual reproduction
c) In sexual reproduction, cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism
d) Other organisms reproduce through asexual reproduction in which a single organism produces offspring identical to itself
5. Living things maintain a stable internal environment
a) All organisms need to keep their internal environment relatively stable, even when external conditions change dramatically
b) This condition is called homeostasis
6. Living things obtain and use material energy
a) All organisms must take in materials and energy to grow
8/29/13
1.3- Studying Life
I.
Characteristics of Living Things: What characteristics do all living things share?
■ Biology is the study of life
■ Living things are made up of basic units called cells are based on a universal genetic code obtain and use materials and energy grow and develop reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a stable internal environment and change over time
1. Living things are based on a universal genetic code
a) All organisms sore the complex information they need to live, grow and reproduce in a genetic code written in a molecule called DNA.
b) That information is copied and passed from parent to offspring
c) With a few minor variations, life’s genetic code is almost identical in every organism on
Earth
2. Living things grow and develop
a) Every organism has a particular pattern of growth and development
b) During development, a single fertilized egg divides again and again
c) As these cells divide they differentiate which means they begin to look different from one another and to perform different functions
3. Living things respond to their environment
a) Organisms detect and respond to stimuli from their environment
b) A stimulus is a signal to which an organism responds
4. Living things reproduce
a) All organisms reproduce, which means that they produce new similar organisms
b) Most plants and animals engage in sexual reproduction
c) In sexual reproduction, cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism
d) Other organisms reproduce through asexual reproduction in which a single organism produces offspring identical to itself
5. Living things maintain a stable internal environment
a) All organisms need to keep their internal environment relatively stable, even when external conditions change dramatically
b) This condition is called homeostasis
6. Living things obtain and use material energy
a) All organisms must take in materials and energy to grow