Life’s Structure and
Classification
Trait: features of living things
Organism: any living thing;
example: A plant is an organism.
Cell: smallest unit of an organism
that can carry on life
functions; sample sentence: All
cells contain hereditary
material.
Homeostasis: ability of an
organism to maintain proper
internal conditions despite
changes in the environment;
example sentence: One example of
homeostasis is the body’s
ability to maintain body
temperature.
Feature: separate or special part or
quality
What are living things like?
Graphic organizer about the cell:
The Cell
Gets and uses
materials from
its
The
smallest
unit of life
6 features that all organisms have
in common
Are
organized
Grow and
develop
Respond to
stimuli
All
Organisms
reproduce
Use energy
Maintain
Homeostas
is
3 factors living things need to
survive:
1. A place to live; such as a
hole in the desert sand for a
beetle
2. Water; such as dew for a
beetle
3. Food sources; such as plants
Substances that make up living
things are recycled:
When an organism dies, the
materials in their bodies are
broken down and released into the
soil and air. The materials can
be used again by other organisms.
How are living things classified?
Hereditary: relating to the
passing of traits from parent to
offspring
Binomial nomenclature: two-word
naming system that is used to
give all types of organisms
their scientific name
Genus: group of similar species
Phylogeny:
evolutionary
history of a type of organism;
used today to help classify
organisms
Kingdom: first and largest
category used to classify
organisms
Category: division in a
classification system
Binomial Nomenclature
First word:
genus
Second Word:
Feature of the
organism
Summarize 4 reasons for using
scientific names to classify
organisms:
1. Using scientific names helps
avoid mistakes.
2. Organisms with similar
evolutionary histories are
classified together.
3. Scientific names provide
descriptive info about a
species.
4. Scientific names allow
information about organisms to
be organized easily and
efficiently.
Jaguar
Black Jaguar Puma
Panther
Black Puma Mountain Lion Black
Mt. Lion Cougar
Puma concolor
Cheetah
Blk. Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Panthera pardus
Leopard
Information modern scientists use
to determine phylogeny
Similarities in structure
fossils
Used to determine phylogeny
Hereditary information
Early stages of development
Sequence today’s classification
system:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Dichotomous key:
Common name:
prairie vole
Scientific name: microtus
ochrogaster
Suggest at least three
characteristics that could be used
to identify your favorite pet.
Type of animal:
Characteristics:
Cell Structure
Theory: explanation of events or
circumstances based on
scientific knowledge resulting
from repeated observations and
tests.
Tissue: group of similar cells that
work together to do one job
Organ: structure made of different
types of tissues, all of which
work together
Organ system: group of organs
working together to perform a
certain function