Biology

Biosphere

Biodiversity

Characteristics of Living Things

Cells

• All organisms are made up of one or more cells
• Cells are the basic unit of life

Need for Energy

• All organisms need a source of energy for their life processes
• Energy is the ability to cause a change or to do work
• Metabolism: chemical process that builds up/ breaks down materials

Response to Environment

• All organisms must react to their environment to survive
• Stimuli: changes in the environment 

Reproduction & Development

• All species must have the ability to reproduce
• When organisms reproduce, they pass their DNA to their offspring

Systems

Ecosystems

• Physical environment with different species
• Organisms interact with living and non-living things

Structure and Function are Related

• Structure: polar bear's hair
• Function: thickness offers insulation (warmth)

Homeostasis

• Organisms must maintain homeostasis to survive in diverse environments
• Homeostasis: maintenance of constant internal conditions 

Evolution

Evolution

• One way that evolution occurs is through natural selection of adaptations
• Adaptation: an inherited trait that gives an advantage to individual 

Evolution