defining biology-properties of life

Biology

The study of life.

Life

Defined by a set of properties that all living organisms exhibit.

Order

A property of life where organisms are highly complex structures consisting of one or more cells, arranged in a hierarchy from subatomic particles to organisms.

Response to Stimuli

A property of life where organisms react to diverse internal and external changes.

Reproduction

A property of life where organisms produce new organisms.

Adaptation

A property of life resulting from evolution by natural selection, enhancing reproductive potential.

Growth and Development

A property of life where living organisms undergo regulated growth and development according to genetic instructions.

Homeostasis

A property of life involving the maintenance of dynamic equilibrium within the body.

Energy Processing

A property of life where organisms capture and use energy to fuel their activities.

Evolution

A property of life referring to the change in the genetic makeup of a population over time.

Multicellular Organisms

Organisms consisting of millions of individual cells, often specialized for specific functions.

Regeneration

The process by which organisms can regrow lost or damaged body parts (examples: flatworm, sea star, axolotl, frog tadpole, human skin/liver cells).

Positive Response

Movement toward a stimulus.

Negative Response

Movement away from a stimulus.

Asexual Reproduction

A single parent producing offspring with the same genes and inherited traits as the parent.

Sexual Reproduction

Two parents producing offspring with a mix of genes from both parents, resulting in different traits.

Genes

DNA containing instructions passed from parents to offspring, determining species and characteristics.

Natural Selection

The process by which adaptations arise and characteristics of a population track environmental changes.

Feedback Loops

Mechanisms that maintain homeostasis by either resisting (negative) or accelerating (positive) responses to stimuli.

Negative Feedback Loop

Attempts to maintain physiological levels at a set point by resisting changes.

Positive Feedback Loop

Maintains the direction of a stimulus and accelerates responses.

Thermoregulation

The process of maintaining internal body temperature.

Endotherms

Organisms that maintain a constant internal temperature irrespective of external temperatures.

Ectotherms

Organisms whose internal temperatures are determined by external temperatures.

Autotroph

Organisms that capture energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy as food.

Heterotroph

Organisms that use chemical energy from other organisms they consume.

Domain Bacteria

Unicellular prokaryotic organisms.

Domain Archaea

Unicellular prokaryotic organisms, most of which live in extreme environments.

Domain Eukarya

Eukaryotic cells that contain a membrane-bound nucleus and internal compartments.

Protists

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya, including protozoans, algae, and diatoms.

Fungi

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya, including