5 Minute Brainstorm:
What
is SCIENCE?
What
is BIOLOGY?
What
characteristics do things
that are “Alive” share?
How is Biology studied?

Biologists use the scientific method…
What does this mean??
The Scientific Method
What Is Life?




Capture and use of
energy and raw
materials
Sense and respond to
the environment
Capacity to grow,
reproduce, and develop
Tendency to evolve
UNIVERSAL #1: Molecules of Life
All things are made up
of the same units of
matter (atoms,
molecules)
Living things are made of up of a certain
subset of molecules:
nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates,
and lipids
UNIVERSAL #2: DNA

The signature molecule
of life

Molecule of inheritance

Directs assembly of
amino acids
UNIVERSAL #3:
Nothing Lives Without
Energy
Energy = Capacity to do work
Metabolism = Reactions by which
cells acquire and use energy to
grow, survive, and reproduce
UNIVERSAL #4: Sensing and
Responding
Organisms sense changes in their environment
and make responses to them
UNIVERSAL #5: Homeostasis

Maintenance of internal
environment within range
suitable for cell activities

Example: Pancreas maintains
level of sugar in blood by
secreting hormones
UNIVERSAL #6: Basic Unit of
Life = The Cell
Characteristics of life emerge at the level of cells
 A cell is the smallest unit having the capacity to
live and reproduce

Universal #7: Life is
ORGANIZED
Increasing Levels of Organization:
Cell
Multicelled Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
UNIVERSAL #8:
Interdependencies
Among Organisms
Producers
Make their own food
Consumers
Depend on energy stored in
tissues of producers
Decomposers
Break down remains and
wastes
UNIVERSAL #9: Unity of Life
All organisms:
 Are
composed of the same substances
 Sense
and respond to the environment
 Have
the capacity to reproduce based on
instructions in DNA
How would a biologist explain
this UNITY??
UNIVERSAL #10: Diversity of Life

Millions of living species

Additional millions of species now extinct
How would a biologist explain
this DIVERSITY??
Explaining the Paradox of Unity
and Diversity: Evolution