What is Biology?
Biology is the study
of life
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SO… WHAT IS LIFE
Life is defined by a list of characteristics
organisms must possess to be
considered living.
All living organisms contain the same
life functions although their means of
achieving them may be different
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Life Functions
Nutrition - activities of an organism,
used to obtain materials from the
environment and process them for their use.
1.
Materials
Process
Organism
Two Types of Nutrition
Autotrophic
Heterotrophic
CO2
H2O
Organic Food
Light Energy
Ingestion
Photosynthesis
Digestion
Egestion
All other
Plants & Algae
organisms
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Nutrition
Heterotrophic
Autotrophic
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Life Functions
2. Transport - involves the
absorption and distribution
of materials within an
organism.
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Life Functions
3. Respiration - includes the chemical process by
which an organism obtains energy (ATP) from
its food (Glucose).
Food (glucose)
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Respiration vs. Breathing
Breathing is taking air in and out
Respiration is converting food into energy.
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Life Functions
4. Excretion - the removal of wastes
produced by cells during metabolic
activities.
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Life Functions
5. Synthesis - includes the chemical
activities by which an organism builds
larger molecules from smaller ones.
(to make)
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Life Functions
6. Regulation - involves the control and
coordination of various activities in an
organism. (Nervous system and Endocrine
system play a role).
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Life Functions
7. Growth - increases in cell size and/or
cell numbers.
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Life Functions
8. Reproduction - production of new
individuals. A species’ survival depends
on reproduction. An individual’s survival
does not.
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II. Important Terms
1. Metabolism - refers to all the life functions
needed to sustain life. Does not include
reproduction
2. Homeostasis - the maintenance of a stable
internal environment. (Regulation helps to
achieve Homeostasis)
• Your body systems are constantly adjusting to
maintain homeostasis.
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MR STRANGER
M=Metabolism
R= Respiration
S= Synthesis
T= Transport
R= Regulation
A= Ambulation (Locomotion)
N=Nutrition
G=Growth
E=Excretion
R= Reproduction
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