Chapter 1: The study of life Section 1: Introduction to biology

CHAPTER 1: THE STUDY OF LIFE SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO

BIOLOGY

Ms. Diana

THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

Biology is the study of living things. In biology, you study the origins and history of life

and once-living things, the structures of living things, how living things interact with one another, and how living things function. Biologists study the following: Diversity of life: study how living organisms interact with

their environments. Research disease: study how diseases work and how to

prevent them. Biologists develop new vaccines and treatments. Develop technologies: discover tools that are used to improve lives through biomedical engineering and biotechnology.

THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

Cont'd: Improve Agriculture: research agricultural issues for food production, study ways to genetically engineer the growth of plants. Preserve the environment: study ways to keep the environment safe, study animal and plant species and the affect human behavior has had on them

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE

How do biologists decide if something is alive? Over time, biologists have learned that living things

have certain characteristics. An organism is anything that has or once had all of the following characteristics: Made of one or more cell Displays organization Grows and develops Reproduces Responds to stimuli Requires energy Maintains homeostasis Adaptations evolve over time

MADE OF ONE OR MORE CELL

All organisms are made up of one or more cell. The cell is the basic unit of life. Some organisms are unicellular or multi-cellular.

DISPLAYS ORGANIZATION

Living things have to be arranged in an orderly way.

In unicellular organisms, one cell can be responsible for all the life functions.

In multi-cellular organisms the order is as follows: Cells tissues organs organ systems organism

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GROWS AND DEVELOPS

Growth is an important characteristic for a living thing.

Most organisms begin as one cell. Growth can add mass to an organism by the

formation of new, additional cells, and structures. Development ? the process of natural changes

that take place during the life of an organism.

REPRODUCES

Reproduction ? the production of offspring. If a species wants to continue to exist, then it

must reproduce. Species ? a group of organisms that can breed

with one another and produce fertile offspring. If reproduction does not take place for a

particular species, then that species will eventually become extinct (no longer exist).

RESPONDS TO STIMULI

A stimulus is anything that is part of an organisms internal and external environment that causes some type of reaction.

Any reaction to a stimulus is called a response. An organisms ability to respond to stimuli is

extremely important because it is critical for its safety and survival. Ex:

Sharks respond to the smell of blood in the ocean Plants respond to light if placed near a window Humans respond to any signs of immediate danger

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REQUIRES ENERGY

Living things need energy for their life functions. Living things get energy from food like plants

and animals. Plants get their energy from the Sun. Cells can transform energy into chemical

compounds. Some organisms consume other organisms if they

can't make their own food.

MAINTAINS HOMEOSTASIS

Homeostasis ? regulation of an organism's internal conditions to maintain life.

If something happens to or within an organism that affect's its normal state, then there are processes that begin to bring the organism back to homeostasis.

Ex. Athletes competing at higher altitudes, switching between extremely hot and cold temperatures

ADAPTATIONS EVOLVE OVER TIME

Over a long period of time, organisms begin to inherit certain characteristics to allow them to survive.

Adaptations ? any inherited characteristic that results from changes to a species over time.

Ex.

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ATISCIENCEDEPARTMENT.

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