What is an organism?
-any living thing
-There are 7 characteristics that
distinguishes living from nonliving.
All living organisms …….

1. Are made up of one or more
cells.
Cells are the basic unit
of function and structure
of all living organisms.
Unicellular:
-organisms made up
of only one cell.
Bacteria
Protist
Multicellular:
-organisms made up of
many cells all working
together.
Fungi
Plants
Animals
Multicellular organisms must
display levels of organization:
1. CELLS
is the basic unit of life
2. A group of like cells make up a:
TISSUE
3. Layers of like tissues make up a:
ORGAN
4. A group of organs working together for one purpose is a:
SYSTEM
Examples?
Digestive, Excretory, Circulatory, Respiratory,
Reproductive, Nervous, etc…..
5. ORGANISM
5. Organism
6. Species
=an individual living
= group of like
thing (frog)
organisms that can
Made up of a series of
organ systems working reproduce and produce
a
fertile
offspring.
together.
(spring peepers)
7. Population
= group of individuals of the same
species living in one place. ( All the
spring peepers living in Mrs.
O'Neill's pond).
8. Communities
= groups of many different populations
living in one area. ( all the different types of
frogs, fish, turtles and cat tails in Mrs.
O’Neill’s pond).
9. Ecosystem
= all the different organisms and their
physical environment both biotic and abiotic
Biotic:
bio=life
anything alive
Abiotic
a=non
bio=life
anything nonliving
like air, water, etc..
10. Biosphere
= is the region of our universe where
organisms live (land, air and water).
What’s the difference between the man
and the rock?
Man
-made up
of cells and
displays all
levels of
organization.
Rocks
-not made up of
cells. Made up of
only atoms and
molecules
All living organisms……
2. Must be able to successfully
reproduce.
-Reproduce means to make
new organisms .
-This trait pertains to the species
and NOT to an individual.
Types of reproduction:
Asexual Reproduction:
A
= not
Sexual
= well you know what that
means...
-Asexual reproduction is when one
organism divides into two new
organisms.
-the new organisms are
genetically identical.
-clones
-
Binary Fission
Bacteria, protist, some fungi, some plants
and some animals.
Strawberry Plants
Budding
Hydras
Asexual Reproduction
Benefits:
Disadvantages:


Only takes one organism
to reproduce and keep
the species alive


Decrease in genetic
diversity within a gene
pool.
Recycling of “bad”
genes/or traits.
If all organisms are
identical than a single
factor could wipe out the
entire species.
Example:

Streptococcus bacteria can be
killed by penicillin.
Sexual Reproduction:
-Requires two things
-sperm
-egg
-Produces organisms that are
genetically different.
23
23
46
Zygote
Sexual Reproduction
Benefits:
•
Increases genetic
diversity.
• All organisms within a
species has unique
traits.
• If the traits are
beneficial they can
pass them on to their
offspring and create
more fit organisms.
Disadvantage:

In most species it
requires two different
organisms to reproduce
 Few species are
hermaphrodites
 One organisms has
the ability to produce
both sperm and egg


Most flowering
plants
Sponges
External Fertilization:
verses
Internal Fertilization
External Fertilization:
Sperm and egg are released into the water .
Sperm and egg randomly come together by
chance.
Offspring develop on their own, many ending up
as a prey or as “fish food”
Fish
External Fertilization
Frogs
External Fertilization

Benefits:

Provides the chance
to produce a large
amount of offspring

Disadvantages:


Offspring develop
unprotected
Large amount of
offspring do not
survive

Internal fertilization:
 Sperm
is deposited into the
female’s body and fertilization
takes place inside the body.
Internal Fertilization
Internal Fertilization

Benefits:


Offspring are
protected by the
female’s body or by
an egg shell
Better chance to
survive.

Disadvantages:

Less offspring are
produced
3. All living organisms must be able
to grow and develop.
Grow:
to increase in the number of
cells.
Develop:
to change in form.
Growth and
development may
occur at the same
time.
4. All living organisms must obtain and use
energy.
-need energy to do everything
-grow, develop, reproduce…..even sleep.
Why do babies sleep
so much????
Obtain energy through:

Photosynthesis:
SUN + CO2 + H2O  Sugar + O2

Cellular Respiration:
Sugar + O2  CO2 + H2O + ATP
Heterotrophs:
Hetero =
different
trophs =
to nourish
-organisms that get energy by consuming and
digesting carbohydrates/sugars into useable
molecules.
-these molecules are then broken down into
energy through the process of cellular respiration.
Who is heterotrophic:
-some bacteria
-some protist
-all fungi
-all animals

Different types of heterotrophs:
1. Herbivore:
-plant eater
-Ex:
cows, elephants, giraffes
2. Carnivore:
-meat eater
-Ex:
lions, tigers, sharks

3. Omnivore
 -eats
both plants and animals
 Ex:
Humans, bears

4. Decomposer/Saprophyte:
 Breaks
down dead or decaying
organic matter
 Ex:
bacteria, fungus or invertebrates
Autotrophs:
Auto =
trophs =
self operating
to nourish
-organisms which make
their own food/sugars through the
process of Photosynthesis
-once made the sugar must still
be broken down into energy through
cellular respiration.
Who is Autotrophic?
-some bacteria
-some protist
-all plants
An organism’s metabolism is the sum
of all chemical reactions that occur
within a cell. This includes the
breaking down of food molecules into
energy and the use of this energy to do
work in the form of building,
maintaining and repairing the body .
Ross Review
“When we try to pick out
anything by itself, we find it
hitched to everything else in the
universe.”

If all of the lions on an African savanna were killed or
removed, how do you think their absence might affect
the other living things on the savanna?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is the energy source for this food web?
Who are the producers/autotrophs?
Who are the primary consumers/heterotrophs?
Who are the secondary consumers/heterotrophs?
What do the arrows represent?
Approximately what % of energy is passed on
through each step?
Species interactions within an
ecosystem:

1.
Predator-Prey Relationships
What is the role of the predator?
-organism that feeds directly upon
another living organism.
-May or may not kill the prey.
What is the role of the prey?
-the smaller and weaker of the two
organisms that is hunted by the
predator.

2. Competition

Two organisms of the same or from a different
species compete for the same resources:
-Food
-Shelter
-Mates
-Space

3. Symbiosis
A non-antagonistic living together of
two or more members of different
species.
Two types of symbiosis:
-Commensalism
-Mutualism

Type 1:Commensalism
Type of symbiosis in which one member
clearly benefits (+) and the other member is
neither benefited nor harmed .

Type 2: Mutualism
Is the association in which both
members of the partnership benefit.

4. Parasitism

When a smaller organism feeds on a larger
organism, weakening or killing it.
One organism benefits and the other organism is
harmed .

Roles:

Parasite:
smaller organism that lives in
or on the body of the host.

Host:
Larger organism which is being
lived upon.
5. All living organisms must adapt to
their environment.
Camouflaging
WHY?
Survival…………..
Chameleons
Snowshoe
rabbit in the
winter and
summer.

Organisms that are best adapted to
their environment are the ones who
survived and reproduced. (Survival of the fittest)
-leading cause of evolution
-slow, gradual change over time
Other adaptions:
Darwin’s Finches
6. All living organisms must be able to
respond to their environment.
WHY?
Survival…………………….
STIMULUS
coldness
heat
no food
light
RESPONSE
Shiver
Sweat
Birds fly south /hibernation
Plant grow towards it
7. All living organisms must be able
display homeostasis.
Homo =
same
stasis =
stationary
Heart beat/pulse
Blood pressure
Water balance
Body temperature
Homeostasis is the ability for an organism
or cell to regulate its internal environment
and maintain an equilibrium or constant
internal conditions.
-Homeostasis is accomplished by a series of
feedback mechanisms
-An organism is in homeostasis when it’s needs are
met and it is functioning properly.
Example:
Blood sugar rises  body senses change  pancreas
secretes insulin into blood  insulin effectively lowers
the blood sugar level by moving sugar into the cells.
Once blood sugar levels reach homeostasis the pancreas
stops releasing insulin
If a person can not perform this negative feedback loop
then what is wrong with the person?
-
Example:
Blood vessel is damaged  platelets cling to injured
site and release chemicals to attract more platelets 
platelets continue to pile up and release these chemicals
until a clot is formed.
Homeostasis happens in all
organisms, even plants.
Plants need to regulate:
-water loss
-CO2 intake
Homeostasis link
What is the body temperature of a healthy human?
How does our bodies react/maintain homeostasis when
exposed to the following stimuli:
STIMULUS
RESPSONSE
1. Coldness  Homeostasis 1.
mechanism 2.
3.
RESULT
 warms up
STIMULUS
RESPSONSE
RESULT
2. Heat  Homeostasis 1.
mechanism 2.
cools down
3. Blood  Homeostasis 1.
pressure mechanism
drops
blood
pressure
rises
4. Blood  Homeostasis 1.
sugar
mechanism
rises
blood
sugar
drops