Transcript It’s Alive!! Or is it?

It’s Alive!!
Or is it?
What is this thing we call life?
Characteristics of living things
What does a dog have in common with a
bacterium?
– There are six characteristics that all
organisms share.
1. Living things have Cells
All living things are made up of cells.
Cell: the smallest unit that can carry
out all the activities of life.
– All cells are surrounded by a cell membrane
that separates it from the outside
environment
2. They respond to stimuli
All organisms sense a change in the
environment.
Stimulus: a change that affects the
activity of an organism (plural-stimuli)
What are some examples of a stimulus?
What happens when the outside
environment changes?
Conditions in the body must stay the
same.
Homeostasis: the act of keeping a
constant environment inside an organism
Homeostasis
What happens in your body if it is hot
outside?
– Sweating to cool down
What happens if it is cold?
– Body starts to shiver
Predict what would happen if your body
couldn’t maintain homeostasis.
3. Living things Reproduce
Every type of organism has offspring.
Sexual reproduction: when two parents
make offspring
Asexual reproduction: one parent
makes offspring that is identical to the
parent
4. Living things have DNA
All organisms have DNA in their cells
DNA: (deoxyribonucleic acid) carries
instructions for the organism’s traits
Offspring get copies of parts of their
parent’s DNA
5. Living things use Energy
All organisms need energy
– Break down food
– Move materials in and out of cells
– Build cells
Metabolism: all of the chemical
reactions that take place in an
organism’s body
6. Living things Grow and Develop
All living things grow during some part
of their lives
As they grow they also develop and
change
Is it Alive? Lab
You are a biologist and you have never
been to Earth, in front of you are two
objects/things you have never seen
before. You are asked to describe them
and determine if they are alive.
– How would you do this?
Name:
Partner Name:
Period:
Is it Alive?
Remember the 6 characteristics
Cells
Respond to stimuli
Reproduce
DNA
Energy
Grow and Develop
Science Fact of the Day
Super-worms undergo
metamorphosis into a
beetle!!!
Beetles are found on
every continent
except Antarctica.