What is Biology

Basic Characteristics of
Living Things
Movement
All living things move in some way, thus transferring from
one place to another. Plants that have parts that move to
track the movement of the sun called tropism.

Ex. Earthworms use circular and longitudinal muscles to move

through soil or along surfaces.
Growth and Development

 All living things grow.

Plants and animals grow by development from
within, called intussusceptions. Non-living things
increase in size by external addition, called accretion.
Ex. Earthworms hatch from eggs and can grow up to a
meter or more in length! Some earthworms are also
able to regrow small parts of their body that have been
lost or injured.
Reproduction

The ability to reproduce and pass genetic information onto their

offspring. It could be sexual which requires two different sexes, or
asexual reproduction which does not require sex, like cutting,
budding, fragmentation, marcotting and fission.

Ex. Earthworms have both sperm and eggs within their bodies (they
are hermaphrodites) but they cannot self-fertilize and need to mate
with another individual. After mating, a cocoon containing the
fertilized eggs is deposited in the soil.
Metabolism
it is the sum of all chemical reactions that take place inside
the living cell/ things.
Types
 Anabolism- building up phase of metabolism; a process of
synthesis of complex compound from simpler form. Required
for growth of new cells and tissues.
Catabolism – breaking down complex substance into simpler
form thereby producing energy, which is required to all
bodies
Sensitivity or Responsiveness

 The ability to detect changes in the surrounding

environment.
 All organisms can respond to stimuli such light, heat,
gravity, water, touch, or sound.

Ex. Earthworms have light-sensitive cells scattered in

their outer skin. Their skin cells are also sensitive to
touch and chemicals.
Genetic Control
 all organisms have units of information packaged in their
cells termed as genetic material (DNA) that directs all life
processes.

The genetic materials is transmitted from generation to

generation preserving the traits of the species.
Chemical Composition

 Four major elements that comprises living organisms are:

Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O) and Nitrogen.
 when elements are combined with carbon, these form an
organic molecule producing living substances or protoplasm.
Other chemical elements that occurs in an organism are
called inorganic molecules such as the macro and micro minerals.
References
• http://waihiscience.weebly.com/7-characteristics-of-living-things.html

• Melchor, M. (2014). Introduction to Biology. First Edition,

www.rexpublishing.com.ph

• Aldea, et al.(2009). Introductory to Biology. Mutya Publishing House.

Inc.
Oral Recitation
1. The ability to detect changes in the surrounding environment.

• Sensitivity or Responsiveness
2. It is the building up phase of metabolism; a process of synthesis of complex compound from simpler form. Required for growth of new cells and
tissues.

• Anabolism
3. Non-living things increase in size by external
addition, it is called ______.

Accretion
4. The ability to reproduce and pass genetic
information onto their offspring.

• Reproduction
5. It is the sum of all chemical reactions that take place inside the living cell/ things.

• Metabolism