Intro to Biology / Characteristics of life

8 Characteristics of Life

Cedarville → Cells, Our → Organized, Red → Reproduction, Helmets → Homeostasis, Make → Metabolism, Greenview → Growth & Development, Run → Response to Stimulus, Away → Ability to Adapt

Cell

smallest unit of life

Organization

Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ System → Organism

Organelles

structures within a cell with specialized functions

Reproduction

Ability to make offspring

Mitosis

Process by which two identical daughter cells are created from a single cell. Consists of four phases; prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Occurs in somatic cells.

Asexual Reproduction

the generation of offspring from a single parent without the fusion of gametes; DNA is copied and the offspring are exact copies of the parents; creates clones

Sexual Reproduction

Offspring are genetically unique;

each parent contributes ½ of the genetic material

Homeostasis

maintaining internal balance

Metabolism

take in energy → use the energy → release waste (chemical reactions)

Growth

to grow in size

Development

to gain new abilites

Response

reacting to your enviorment

Adaptation

change over time (involves populations over several generations)

Science

study of the natural world and how it works

Biology

The study of living things

Controlled Experiment

an experiment that tests only 1 variable at a time

Variable

any factor that changed in an experiment

Independent Variable

what you can change in an experiment - the tested factor

Dependent Variable

Changes in response to the independent variable

Constants

(Controlled Variable) Variables that stay the same and are unchanged

Control Group

(no independent variable) not tested

Experimental Group

any groups that are tested