Characteristics of

Life
Biology
The study of Life

Bio: Life
ology: Study of

Characteristics of
Life

Response to Stimulus

(Movement)

Growth & Development

Reproduction
Organization
Homeostasis
Use Energy

Living things acquire materials

and energy, and they reproduce

Response to Stimulus
Stimulus is any

response to an
organisms
environment that
causes it to react.

Living things grow and develop

Growth &
Development
All organisms change during
their lives
Growth increases size
Development is like the stages
of life that humans go through:
infant, adolescent, (puberty),
adult.

Reproduction
The species must reproduce
This is how the species

survives
A group of organisms that
interbreed and produce fertile
offspring are called a species.

Reproduction (cont)
Reproduction is a process that

can allow gradual change in

the characteristics of a species
over time.
Change over time is evolution.
Change over time explains the
great diversity of life.

Organization
Each species has its own

type of body organization

Cells, tissues, organs,
systems are levels of
organization
All body systems interact
with other systems.

Levels of Biological
Organization

Homeostasis
The ability of the body of an

organism to maintain its

internal environment or
conditions in the body.
Example: Body Temperature
Maintaining balance within
the body

Use Energy
All living things obtain energy

from their environment.

They use this energy to move,
grow and develop, reproduce,
have organized body systems,
and maintain homeostasis.
Autotrophic vs Heterotrophic

Theme of Biology
Living things do not exist

in isolation
They are all functioning
parts in the delicate
balance of nature.
Life is dynamic, not
static

Organization of the Biosphere

Chemical cycling- chemicals cycle through

an ecosystem until they are returned to

the environment through death and
decomposition
Energy cycling-flows from the sun through
photosynthesizers to others in food chain
and dissipates back to the environment as
heat

A grassland, a terrestrial
ecosystem

Fig 1.6