DSW
• Define "life“
• Give an example of something living
• Give an example of something not living
Defining "life" is a very difficult task, and scientists don’t all agree on a common list of
the characteristics of life.
Activity
• 1. Fill in the six characteristics of Life in the table on your paper
• 2. Record one or more of these characteristics of Life that you observe for
each category and describe it on the data table on the back of the paper.
• 3. Complete the review part
http://www.exploratorium.edu/imagingstation/activities/classroom/characteristics/ca_characteristics.php
Category
C. elegans
(Caenorhabditis elegans)
Video: Moving C. elegans
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
Video: Sea urchin cell division
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
Video: Sea urchin fertilization
Blood Cells
Video: Human white blood
cells
Cellular Structure and Function
Video: Elodea leaf cells
Stem Cells
Videos: Compare Mouse
embryonic stem cells—movie 1
with Heart cells grown from
mouse embryonic stem cells—
movie 1
Cell Motility
Video: Crawling Amoeba
Zebrafish
(Danio rerio)
Video: Zebrafish development
Characteristics of Life
Description of Observed
Characteristics
DSW February 14
• View the video cliphttp://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/biology/bio2000/biomovies/e1_2int.html
• Is fire ‘alive’? Using as many characteristics of life you can, explain your statement
Fire uses energy, grows, and can reproduce, but it is not considered alive because it cannot evolve
Characteristics of Life
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All organisms use energy (metabolism).
All organisms maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis).
All organisms detect and respond to select external stimuli.
All organisms can engage in movement (which may occur internally, or even at the cellular level).
All organisms show growth and development; that is, specialization of cells or structures. (Even unicellular
organisms show a tiny amount of growth, and single cells repair and use materials from the environment to replace
internal structures as needed.)
• All organisms reproduce. (Even if an individual can’t reproduce, its species can.) In addition, an individual’s cells are
constantly reproducing themselves.
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All organisms have nucleic acid as the hereditary molecule.
All organisms show adaptation, which occurs at the individual level and is tightly related to homeostasis.
All organisms are made of one or more cells.
All organisms exhibit complex organization, grouping molecules together to form cells; at a higher level, cells are
organized into tissues, organs, and organ systems.
• All organisms exhibit evolution over time due to mutation and natural selection (which operates at the species level).
In the chart, write yes or no next to the characteristics that apply to all living things.
Chacteristics
Made of one or more cells
Able to reproduce
Stay warm
Based on a genetic code
Based on the metric system
Grow and develop
Obtain and use materials and energy
Respond to the environment
Maintain a stable environment
Change over time
Applies to living things?
Project
• Characteristics of Life
• Poster project
• 5 groups
• Read and complete the paper- individually
• Make a poster- notice rubric
• Present Poster
• Present posters
• Define
• Explain
• Examples
• Audience
• Write down 5 facts from the presentations
Acronym---------
Seven Life Processes
Movement
Reproduction
Sensitivity
Nutrition
Excretion
Respiration
Growth
MRS NERG
Write your own acronym for the seven characteristics of life
What one MAIN characteristic do ALL organisms have in
common?
The are all made of Cells!
Mrs Nerg
Concept Map