Biology- Characteristics of Life, What Makes Things Living- Basic Concepts for Science

Designed as project or assignment for student in 8th grade Biology class to explain characteristics of life, homeostasis, cells, tissue, organs, reproduction, evolution, and basic concepts covered in class. This was an assignment designed by me and my daughter in 2018 when she was 13 years old.

1. Characteristics of Life Rylee barnett

2. What makes something alive There are certain characteristics used to determine whether something is living or if life exists Most living things will have all of these characteristics It is possible for something to be alive, and these things are considered exceptions To understand biology, you must understand the characteristics of life Cells are the building block of life, there are different types Biology is the study of life

3. Cells Living things have cells Cells are the basic unit of LIFE There are two basic types of cells If something is unicellular it has one cell, like an amoeba If something is multicellular it is made up of many cells, like a moose

4. Organization Living things have organization Cell theory- all living things are made up of cells Cells make tissue Tissue makes organs Organs create an organ system Did you know there are 11 organ systems? The respiratory system is just one organ system

5. Organ systems have organization The Nervous System has organization Cells that make up the nervous system are neurons A Sponge is living, but it does not have a nervous system. Most living things do have this organ system. Sponges are an exception.

6. Examples There are 4 main types of tissue Muscle E pithelial C onnective Nervous Examples of an organ- l iver, lungs, brain Example of organ system- reproductive system, digestive system An example of connective tissue is ligaments or tendons. Connective tissue connects things. Ligaments connect bones to bones, but tendons connect bones to muscle.

7. Homeostasis Homeostasis is important because it helps the body to have balance Living things have homeostasis An example of homeostasis is the body maintaining a certain amount of water. Our body keeps a certain temperature through homeostasis Living things, like humans, need to maintain a certain temperature for balance. It is in the middle of being too hot or too cold. Through homeostasis we maintain balance. If we get too cold, we shiver. If we are too hot, we sweat.

8. Homeostasis If something is taken out of balance, our body will restore that balance Our body tries to maintain 98.6 We respond to the environment by sweating to cool down when we are too hot. We also might shiver if we are cold to help our body get warm. This is our body creating balance.

9. Homeostasis How is Blood glucose balanced? If a persons blood glucose increases they will feel like they are full, and can’t eat anymore. The pancreas is an organ. Through homeostasis, it releases insulin. If a person feels hungry that’s a sign that their blood glucose level has decreased. The pancreas will release Glucagon instead of insulin.

10. Metabolism All chemical reactions that occur in cell How we get energy from food? We eat food and digest it through chemical reactions How do plants get energy from food? Through photosynthesis plants turn sunlight into energy

11. Reproduction All living things can reproduce! The reproductive system is an organ system Animal and human behavior is motivated by reproduction and survival. These motivations will cause animals to act a certain way.

12. Reproduction Sexual or Asexual Asexual means 1 parent Exact copy at end, the cell splits and copies itself. Sexual means 2 parents Plants, animals, and humans reproduce sexually The diagram shows how a plant reproduces sexually.

13. Reproduction Humans also reproduce sexually. Sperm and egg create a zygote, which becomes a baby. The baby has the genetic material from both parents. A baby grows into a person. Growth and development is important. Eventually through reproduction the baby then creates a baby, passing on genetic material, or DNA.

14. Evolution Through reproduction traits are passed on and sometimes they change Changes in traits help to survive and reproduce Evolution is about survival and reproduction Living things must evolve for survival Through evolution changes occur to things like a birds feet, or an animals neck may become longer or shorter

15. What are the Characteristics of Life?

16. Exceptions exist Virus’s do not have all the common characteristics of life, but they have some. Most scientists do not consider a virus to be alive. Viruses can reproduce, but not without a host ET Life or Life on other planets? Will they have the same characteristics.

17. Exceptions exist Prions do not grow, but they do carry a small bit of genetic material Hybrids cannot reproduce Zonkey- A zebra and a donkey cannot reproduce