Chapter 1

A View of Life

1.1 How to Define Life

A huge diversity of life forms can make life difficult to define.

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Atom: smallest unit of a molecule; different kinds of atoms make up different kinds of elements

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Molecule: smallest unit of a compound with the same properties of the compound

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Cell: made of molecules; basic unit of structure and function of all living things; organisms can be unicellular, colonial, or multicellular

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Tissue: group of cells with a common structure and function

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Organ: composed of tissues working together for a task; form systems

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Organism: an individual living thing

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Population: organisms of the same species in a particular area

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Community: interacting populations in a particular area

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Ecosystem: a community plus the physical environment

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Ecosystem: a community plus the physical environment
Grassland, a terrestrial ecosystem

Coral reef, a marine ecosystem

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Biosphere: all parts of Earth with life

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life

Living things are organized Emergent properties: the whole is more than the sum of its parts; due to interactions between parts

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life
Living things acquire materials and energy This picture proves it:

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life
Living things acquire materials and energy Energy: the capacity to do work Organisms carry out chemical reactions; this is called metabolism Photosynthesis stores chemical energy using solar energy Organisms use energy to maintain homeostasis, or biological balance

1.1 How to Define Life



Characteristics of life
Living things respond They interact with the environment and other living things
Living things reproduce and develop Reproduce: make like organisms Development: change over an organisms life time
Living things have adaptations Adaptations: modifications that make an organism suited to its lifestyle

1.3 How Living Things are Classified

Life is classified in order to better understand and study it.  Linnaean classification, from most to least inclusive:
domain
kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species

1.3 How Living Things are Classified



Domains
Bacteria (unicellular prokaryotes)
Archaea (unicellular prokaryotes)
Eukarya (unicellular or multicellular eukaryotes)

Domain Archaea

Domain Bacteria

1.3 How Living Things are Classified



Kingdoms in Eukarya
Protista :diverse, unicellular organisms absorb, photosynthesize, or ingest food
Fungi: multicellular heterotrophs absorb food
Plantae: multicellular autotrophs photosynthesize food
Animalia: multicellular heterotrophs ingest food

Domain Eukarya

1.3 How Living Things are Classified



Naming organisms
Every organism gets a two-part name; this is called binomial nomenclature first name: genus, capitalized and italic second name: species, lower case and italic examples: Homo sapiens, E. coli

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Hypothesis
Input from various sources is used to formulate a testable statement.

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Hypothesis
Input from various sources is used to formulate a testable statement.

Experiment/Observations
The hypothesis is tested by experiment or further observations.

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Hypothesis
Input from various sources is used to formulate a testable statement.

Experiment/Observations
The hypothesis is tested by experiment or further observations.

Conclusion
The results are analyzed, and the hypothesis is supported or rejected.

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Hypothesis
Input from various sources is used to formulate a testable statement.

Experiment/Observations
The hypothesis is tested by experiment or further observations.

Conclusion
The results are analyzed, and the hypothesis is supported or rejected.

Scientific Theory
Many experiments and observations support a theory.

Flow diagram for the scientific method

Observation
New observations are made, and previous data are studied.

Hypothesis
Input from various sources is used to formulate a testable statement.

Experiment/Observations
The hypothesis is tested by experiment or further observations.

Conclusion
The results are analyzed, and the hypothesis is supported or rejected.

Scientific Theory
Many experiments and observations support a theory.