College of Arts and Sciences Education

General Education - Science

2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Big Picture in Focus

ULO-b. Distinguish the attributes and characteristics of life and the abiotic factor.

In this segment, the important terminologies related to the attributes and characteristics
of life and the abiotic factor denoted in the ULO-b will be operationally and theoretically
defined to establish a collective understanding needed for the discussion of the topics. You will
encounter these vocabularies as we go through the details of the branches of biology. Please
refer to these definitions when you have difficulty in understanding some concepts.

1. Attributes of Life
The attributes of life refer to the characteristics of living things that made them distinct
from the abiotic components of the universe. All living creatures, from the simplest
form like bacteria to the most complicated giant whale, possess common denominators
of being considered alive, these are the attributes of life.

2. Metabolism
The biochemical reactions by which all organisms acquire & use energy. The vital
processes in the living cells such as synthesis and decomposition of biomolecules.

3. Adaptation
An inherited behavior or characteristic enables an organism to conform to the
environment's changes to survive & reproduce. Over time, adaptations are modified by
natural selection.

4. Mutation
This is a process of alteration of the genetic make-up of an organism. This mutation
could be in the body cell or somatic cells or the germ cells or reproductive cells.

5. Natural Selection
This refers to the biological development that resulted from the successful adaptation
and reproduction of species or populations that survived the environmental changes and
were able to pass the genetic qualities to their offspring.

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

In this portion, you will accomplish the Unit Learning Outcomes, which was
stipulated in the Big Picture. This will be done for the first three weeks of this course. Your
understanding of the following concepts is essential to proceed with successive topics. You
may refer to other available references to explore more on the subjects. Thus, you are
expected to utilize other books, research articles, and other resources that are available in the
university’s library, e.g., ebrary, ProQuest, etc.

LECTURE

The Characteristics of the Living Organisms

What are the Characteristics of Life? Attributes of life refer to the characteristics of
living things that distinguish the abiotic components of the universe. All living creatures, from
the simplest form like bacteria to the most complicated giant whale, possess common
denominators of being considered alive, these are the attributes of life.

However, not all biologists agreed to most of the characteristics that comprised a living
thing, for instance, the category of a virus. The virus has the mechanism of inserting its genetic
materials to its specific host and transforming the cell into its likeness. But then, not all of life's
characteristics are demonstrated by it, especially when outside a living host. It acts like a
particulate: no energy usage, no reproduction, no growth, and other attributes of life. Thus in
presenting the characteristics of life, we are not assertive in which things are living and non-
living matter.

All organisms have Biological Organization, which composes of the basic unit of matter,
forming biomolecules that comprises the organisms. It uses energy and nutrition for
metabolism. It maintains internal constancy. It reproduces, grows, and develops. It responses
to stimuli such as light and sound. Also, it moves to find a mate, to protect itself, and to acquire
food. It has genetic material to perpetuate itself.

1. Biological Organization

The biological organization is a hierarchal level of the complexes of living structures
and systems that outlines life. Every level is essential that started from the simplest unit of
matter which is the atom to the biosphere expanse. Each of the level serves as the scaffold of
the higher organization.

Figure 1 presented the biotic matter that is structured from the atomic level up to the
organic molecules that composed the organelles that function together to form a protoplasmic
structure. The cellular level distinguishes the living things from nonliving. The cellular
organization works together to create tissues that comprise the organ. Organs are the
component of the organ system, which makes up the entire organism.

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Human Beings


Organism
Nervous System
System

Brain
Organs
Nervous Tissues
Tissues
Neurons
Cell
Nucleus
Organelles
Lipids
Molecules
Atoms
carbon

Figure 1. Flowchart of the Biological Organization in Organismic Level.

In Figure 2, the organism interrelates with the same species forming into the
population, interacting with other groups of the population, the community. The biotic
component and the physical environment composed the ecosystem in the biosphere.

Figure 2. Flowchart of the Biological Organization of an Ecological Level.

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

2. Metabolism
The biochemical reactions by which all organisms acquire & use energy. The
vital processes in the living cells such as synthesis and decomposition of
biomolecules.

There are two types of Metabolism

a. Anabolism
- It is the building up phase of metabolism.
- A synthesis process of which a complex compound form from a simpler
Form.

Example: Photosynthesis

b. Catabolism
– The process of breaking down a complex substance into simpler forms as
energy production.

Example: Digestion

3. Maintenance of Homeostasis (Internal Constancy)

Homeostasis - The ability of an organism to maintain its internal environment
despite conditions in the external environment.

Example

In Human body temperature:

if body temperature rises, you sweat.
If body temperature lowers, you shiver.

4. Reproduction
There are two types of Species’ perpetuation:

- Asexual Reproduction - This involves a single parent. The progeny is

genetically identical to the parent.

Example

- Binary Fission is a process of bacterial cell division.

- Cutting, budding, marcotting, and drafting which are typical for
propagating plants
- Fragmentation is an asexual reproduction, which an organism is split
into many sections capable of becoming an adult.

- Sexual Reproduction - This type of reproduction involves two parents. The

progeny are genetically diverse.

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Example

- Mating is a sexual reproduction of animals. It is a conjugation of two

gametes such as the sperm cell and egg cells.

- Pollination is a plant sexual reproduction where the pollen fertilizes the

ovum

- Hermaphroditism is a process of fertilization within the body of an animal

or plant having both male and female reproductive organs.

5. Genetic Control
All organisms have units of information or genetic materials, whether RNA or
DNA, that contained in their cells as a blueprint of their entire characteristics.

6. Responsiveness or Irritability
The attribute of an organism to an immediate response to a stimulus. Adaptation
is an inherited behavior or characteristic that enables an organism to survive and
reproduce in conformation with the constant environmental changes. Over time,
adaptations are modified by natural selection.

The mutation is the capacity to change an organism that could in the form of
Somatic mutation, which is a change in genetic composition in the somatic or
body cells, and Germ Mutation that changes in the genetic formation of the
germ cells or reproductive cells.

Performance Task /Laboratory Activities (Instructions and Procedures will

be given by the teacher)
Laboratory Activity # 3 – Scientific Method
Laboratory Activity # 4 – The Microscope

You can also refer to the sources below to help you further understand
the lesson:

• Mason, Kenneth A. (2017). Biology (11th edition). New York, NY
McGraw-Hill Educ.
• Johnson, George B. (2017). Essentials to the living world. New York, NY
McGraw-Hill Educ. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
• Biology Laboratory Manual
• Starr, Cecie (2015). Biology: A Human Emphasis (9th edition). Australia
Cengage. Learning. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
• Biology Characteristics of Life https://youtu.be/ltRApt0IpCE

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Since you already know the essential concepts in the study of Biology. Let
us determine your understanding of the ideas presented in the unit content by
answering the following:


Activity 1 – Crossword Puzzle

Across Down
3. Internal constancy 1. Conformation of organisms into its environment.
5. Biological 2. Sexual reproduction of plant.
processes inside the 4. Organism split into sections.
cell. 6. Reproductive cells
7. Unit of all matter 9. Change of genetic materials
8. Having male and 10.Same species
female organ

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Activity 1.

In this activity, you are expected to give a detailed explanation of your answer to the
following questions.

1. Cut a piece of the picture from an old newspaper or a magazine. Paste it on the space
provided.

Discussion:
a. List and discuss five attributes of life depicted in the picture.
1.

2.
_
3.

4.

5.

C. A computer virus can infect and destroy important files. How will you classify it,
Living or Nonliving thing? Justify and detailed your answer.

_
_
_
_

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 College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

Activity 1. Based on the discussion of the critical concepts on the attributes and characteristics
of life and the abiotic factor and several assessments you have done, what do you think are the
three most significant lessons you have learned. Write your answers below.

1. _
_
_

2. _
_
_

3. _
_
_

Do you have any questions for clarification?
Questions/Issues Answers
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

Attributes of Life Metabolism Anabolism


Catabolism Biological Organization Genetic Control

Irritability Mutation Adaptation


Reproduction Biosphere Species

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College of Arts and Sciences Education
General Education - Science
2nd Floor, DPT Building, Matina Campus, Davao City
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 134

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